Charlie Chicks help boost Letchworth Garden House Hospices 'Frailty Service' patients

With Easter fast approaching, Letchworth Garden House Hospice Care's annual Charlie Chicks' campaign is in full swing - in a bid to spread joy across Letchworth and across other North Herts towns and surrounding villages.

The popular cheerful chicks are knitted and crocheted by many keen volunteers, before being stuffed with Creme Eggs and sold in schools, shops and beyond, to raise vital funds for the Hospice.

Throughout the years, one of their most keen volunteers has been Doris Jaszczak, who just so happens to have been admitted to the Hospice recently, as a patient through their new Frailty Service.

After being diagnosed with anaemia, Doris had a blood transfusion and has been experiencing health issues ever since. She is now receiving more personalised care, until she's well enough to move into a care home.

Doris was happy to talk about her involvement with making Charlie Chicks

"I'm trying to bring my memory back as to where it all started from, as it was quite some time ago," explains Doris.

"I remember when I started sewing – doing the eyes and beaks, and every chick having to be exactly right, otherwise it wouldn't pass my inspection.

"So I would make alterations, making sure that the egg fitted – it was important that the egg didn't fall out when in a bowl of fifty other chicks. It was a very important job, but I made it so.

"Then we upped our game a bit and got into making chicks with hats. My friend, Jo Wiffen, was the instigator of that, and she was great. Then I got my daughter-in-law involved as well as she's very good at sewing, much better than me.

"Each year I had a bedroom full of them. There was so many I can't remember the exact number – but there was hundreds and hundreds, and even more hundreds of them."

Doris adds: "I would encourage anyone to get involved. You don't have to make hundreds – just make half a dozen and that will help. I honestly enjoyed the chicks while I was doing them, and there's also a good social element to it. I made a lot of friends."

The wonderful Doris Jaszczak

When asked about her experience with the Hospice's new Frailty Service, Doris was full of praise.

"It's marvellous," she says. "I only have to call and say "please may I have…" and it appears – and I'm sure that's the same for everyone, not just me."

"It certainly is a wonderful place," Doris says, adding: "I never expected to be in here, partaking of it.

"Last Sunday when the lady came up to me in the hospital and asked me if I'd like to come to the Hospice, I said "yes please" and off I went that afternoon.

"I knew exactly what I would get from the Hospice was care and attention, and I have."

Not only did impressive Doris significantly contribute to the Charlie Chicks fundraising – she also volunteered on reception at the Hospice.

The team had a message of thanks to share: "We would like to take this opportunity to say a big thank you to Doris for all she's done to help the Hospice in her volunteering roles over the years.

"We wouldn't be able to continue supporting patients and their families without our amazing volunteers."

To find out more about our Charlie Chicks and to donate, please visit https://www.ghhospicecare.org.uk/charlie-chicks.

To find out more about our new Frailty Service and to donate, please visit https://www.ghhospicecare.org.uk/our-new-chapter.

To find out more about volunteering, please visithttps://www.ghhospicecare.org.uk/volunteer.