Big-hearted staff at Cheerbrook Farm Shop in Nantwich have stepped forward to help keep an end-of-life care service going in memory of their co-founder.
The service was first launched in memory of Cheerbrook boss Andrew Shufflebotham two years ago.
And the popular outlet has also committed to continuing its support for the charity and the End of Life Complementary Therapies at Home service.
Today (All Hearts Day February 12th) the team donated the proceeds from every hot drink sold, while staff wore red or pink and pledged further fundraising activities in the months ahead.
Mid Cheshire Hospitals’ End of Life Complementary Therapies at Home service aims to provide comfort, calm and reassurance to patients in their final weeks.
It offers therapies such as Indian Head Massage, Reflexology, Reiki and therapeutic touch in their own homes.
Since launching, the service has supported more than 130 patients, helping them remain at home, surrounded by familiar comforts and loved ones, at the end of their lives.
But it has been entirely reliant on charitable donations and while feedback from patients and families has been overwhelmingly positive, the service faced uncertainty due to funding.
Cheerbrook’s original donation enabled Mid Cheshire Hospitals Charity to commission therapists from St Luke’s Hospice.
The service was developed following an idea from Nantwich Community Nursing teams, recognising many people at the end of their lives wish to stay at home wherever possible.
One patient said: “I was able to totally relax and not worry about anything. For one hour, I felt totally normal and felt I could switch off from my medical situation.”
Another recipient, 85-year-old Alan Hassall from Winsford, who is cared for at home by his wife Gwen, described reflexology as “nice and soothing” adding that it “warmed my feet up for two or three days”.
Sarah Shufflebotham, who was married to Andrew and is director of Cheerbrook Farm Shop, said: “Continuing to fundraise for this service is incredibly important to all of us at Cheerbrook.
“The care, compassion and support shown by the district nursing team to Andrew, to me and to our family during the hardest time of our lives is something we will never forget.
“Supporting this service feels like a way of saying thank you — and of helping ensure other families can receive the same kindness, comfort and dignity, at home, when they need it most.”
Emma Robertson, Head of Mid Cheshire Hospitals Charity, said: “This service reflects exactly what our charity exists to do — enhancing care beyond NHS provision through compassion, insight and community support.
“Knowing that this care is only possible thanks to charitable funding makes days like All Our Hearts Day so important.
“Seeing Cheerbrook support this service again, rooted in love and remembrance, is incredibly special.”
The fundraising announcement has been made on All Our Hearts Day, the Charity’s annual fundraising day encouraging people across Cheshire to wear red or pink and donate £2 to support end of life care for patients and their loved ones, both in hospital and across the community.
If you would like to donate in support of the of End of Life Care, visit https://mchcharity.org/appeals/complementary-therapy-service/
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