Sidmouth: Meet your local Hospiscare fundraiser, who has dedicated 12 years to looking after people needing end of life care

East Devon's Hospiscare Fundraiser, Toni Hiscocks, has spent years helping those in the most need, and she is even more dedicated to the cause after recently losing her father.

Toni has lived in East Devon all her life and she currently lives in Ottery St. Mary. She has a daughter named Cerys and a son called Ollie.

Having previously worked for Devon's NHS Rapid Response team and Marie Curie, Toni has committed many years caring for those in need. She now works for Hospiscare and fundraises money to help them keep offering their essential services.

Hospiscare is a charity based in Exeter that provides specialist end of life services to adults. The charity supports the families as well as the patients requiring end of life care. It provides care in the community and at the patient's home.

Toni started working for Hospiscare at King's House Day Hospice in Honiton in 2014.

Toni told Nub News: "My passion and enthusiasm for Hospiscare became more apparent whilst out talking to people in the community: I kept being asked to attend community events, career workshops and offering to talks to groups like the young farmers etc.

"I really enjoyed this part of it so when a job came up in 2018 I applied and here I am working as the fundraiser covering the East Devon patch."

Toni's role includes networking, raising the profile of Hospiscare and promoting and organising events.

Despite what many people think, Hospiscare is not part of the NHS, and it costs £8 million a year to run. Only 8% of that money comes from the NHS.

In recent months, Toni has become even more aware of how important Hospiscare is after losing her father in December 2021.

Toni said: "Hospiscare were angels and took all the worries away from my mum and the family.

"Not only did they care for my dad but they cared for us all, they helped by getting his pain under control and managing his symptoms, ensuring we had all the care and support we possibly could need during what was and still is the most difficult time.

"I personally really do value our local Hospiscare nurses, I have seen it from all sides, my dad chose to stay at home, it was difficult but with expertise care and compassion it was made possible by the specialist nurses."

You can make a donation emergency SOS here.