Hillingdon Hospital has a new tree in its grounds with a very particular purpose – to help families and friends remember their loved one with a special message.
A Macmillan Cancer Support ‘Memory Tree’, unveiled at this year’s Run Regent’s Park fundraiser, has found a permanent new home at the hospital in Pield Heath Road, in a quiet spot in front of the Maternity building.
Members of the Hillingdon Cancer Care and End-of-Life teams came together for the planting, including Lorraine Barton, Manager of the Macmillan Information and Support Service based at the hospital and Liz Bunker, Lead Nurse for Palliative Care at the Trust. They both decorated the tree with the messages left by runners at the Regent’s Park event.
Over 900 runners had taken part, where they and supporters left messages and tributes on the tree, which was generously donated by Heritage Tree Services of Uxbridge and who took it to the park, set it up, then brought it back to the hospital for planting.
Last year, Macmillan’s Run Regent’s Park raised more than £259,300 for vital cancer services across the UK.
Liz Bunker said: “We have a very dedicated End-Of-Life Care Team here at Hillingdon and we work closely with Macmillan. This tree, as well as being a wonderful gift, is also a beautiful way for us to help people remember their loved ones, and we will be looking at ways to best utilise it for that purpose.”
You can contact the Macmillan Information and Support Centre at Hillingdon Hospital on 01895 279 169 or just drop in – the centre is open Tuesday-Friday, 10am-4pm.
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