Volunteer Thank You Event celebrates dedicated supporters

Shooting Star Children’s Hospices deeply values our volunteers, who generously give their time and expertise in myriad ways, ensuring we can continue to be there for families. 

Each play an integral role in the running of the charity and on Sunday 19 May, we recognised their unwavering support and dedication by welcoming over 60 volunteers to our annual Thank You Event in Cobham.

The afternoon commenced with a lively and informative game of heads and tails, providing an entertaining way to share key facts about the charity.

This was followed by an update from Paul Farthing, our Chief Executive, who highlighted our recent achievements and future goals.

Throughout the afternoon, several volunteers shared their motivations for volunteering and the roles they play, while Ginny Hancock, Physiotherapist, spoke to the audience about the benefits of hydrotherapy.

Volunteers also had the chance to participate in a quiz to guess how much six items sold for via our eBay stores – all of which raised significant funds.

Attendees mingled over a glass of prosecco, tea and cake and engaged in networking bingo, which offered the chance to win a prize.

Towards the end of the event, the audience were moved to hear Geraldine Sheedy, Head of Hospice Services, share the story of Jake and his family and the support they received from Shooting Star Children’s Hospices.  

Finally, Kheelna Bavalia, one of our Care Trustees, spoke about the trustees’ work and her personal motivation for volunteering, before Paul Farthing thanked everyone for coming and for all their continued support.   

Melanie Hill, Head of Volunteer Development and Retail, said, “It was an absolute pleasure to welcome so many of our volunteers to this event on a lovely sunny afternoon in Cobham.  

“The main aim was to make sure our volunteers know how truly valued they are and that without them we would not be able to deliver the breadth of services we provide to our families.  

“We hope they enjoyed the event as much as we did and that they found it a fun and informative afternoon.”

We’re always looking for new people to join our volunteer team, whether that’s for a few hours each week, or helping out a few times a year at our events.  To find out more about how you can make a difference by volunteering, visit here.