"The memorial on Sunday gave me a sense of closure and relief as my father donated his body to WITS University, so we never had a body or ashes. Being able to throw sand onto the buried capsules and release balloons was an incredibly emotional but cathartic experience. I also had a chance to say goodbye to my dear friend, Tracy as until Sunday I could not bear to let her go. She never came to terms with dying. Having the special caregivers there for support and so many other people who shared in the day meant so much to me. Thank you for all the hard work and thought that went into this behind the scenes. "
- Lynn Holmes

The newly established Stepping Stone Hospice Centre for Palliative Learning (CPL) was recently invited to give a one hour introduction and overview on Loss and Bereavement to 75 medical students currently on the Moshal Scholarship Programme.

Established in 2009 by Martin Moshal, the Moshal Scholarship Program currently provides scholarships to over 909 Moshal Scholars in Israel, South Africa and the Ukraine to enable determined young people from challenging backgrounds to attend the top universities in their home countries.

A Flip-flop civvies day on 28 March 2018 at Glenanda Primary led to two laptops and a cash donation of R2120 handed over to Stepping Stone Hospice & Care Services recently.

The Foundation Phase Head of Department and also the coordinator of the different fundraising event at the school this year, Mrs Barbara Joseph, visited Stepping Stone Hospice to hand over the wonderful gifts to Tersia Burger, CEO of Stepping Stone Hospice and Sonia Thomson, head of HR at Stepping Stone. "I suggested to the grade 2 group that we support Stepping Stone Hospice this year as I recognized the good work they did when my sister-in-law, Carol Durocher-Yvon, passed away there on 21 September 2017. Although she was only there for three days, she was made to feel comfortable in her last few days. For this, we were so grateful! Your staff were very loving, caring and supportive," explains Mrs Joseph.

An idea that was formed some seven years ago when two friends went on their regular walk through the streets of Bedfordview, has led to thousands and thousands of rand donated over the past few years to various non-profit organizations who mostly deal with cancer related issues.

This year was no exception with the Shuffling Walking Team raising over R500 000 with their annual walk that took place on Sunday July 29 in Bedfordview. Stepping Stone Hospice & Care Services was one of the seven beneficiaries chosen and on Tuesday 4 September, a cheque of R100 000 was handed over to Stepping Stone Hospice CEO, Tersia Burger.

In what is hoped to be the biggest gathering of bikers in Alberton and Johannesburg South in recent history, Stepping Stone Hospice & Care Services has joined forces with Panorama Flee Market to host a biker's event on Saturday October 6, 2018.

"Bikers for Hospice" aims to not only create awareness of the services Stepping Stone Hospice delivers to this community, but to also mark the launch of World Hospice & Palliative Care Day, which this year coincides with the centenary celebrations of Dame Cicely Saunders, founder of the modern hospice movement.

Doing community hours in order to complete their Life Orientation portfolio, can be a tedious task for high school learners as it is often difficult to find a project that fits into their already busy schedules.

Stepping Stone Hospice & Care Services launched a pilot project earlier this year whereby learners are not only able to gain their community hours, but also contribute towards the hospice's fundraising efforts.

Stepping Stone Hospice's Memorial Day will take place on Sunday, 16 September, from 12 noon at the hospice's In-Patient Unit in New Market Park.

This annual event sees families and friends gather together to remember their loved ones and reconnect with the people who cared for them in their last days.

"This will be our fifth Memorial Day since opening our doors in 2013," says Stepping Stone Hospice CEO, Tersia Burger. "To date, we have had over 1200 patients pass away under our care; people who we remember with love and fondness. On a personal level, I also honour the life of my daughter Vicky Bruce on this day. She was our very first patient, our very first death, and the reason that Stepping Stone Hospice exists at all."

After months of planning and designing and negotiating, it's finally happening. The Stepping Stone Hospice & Care Services' In-Patient Unit will be extended from an 8-ward unit to a 14-ward unit, all thanks to the combined efforts of Kim Scanell from Grayston Travel, Russell Cruickshank from Cornerstone Projects, Thersea Corrigan from SCS Architects and a fantastic team of sponsors and donors.

When the call came from Kim that she wishes to donate a 435sqm, second-hand park home, previously used as offices, to the hospice, the team at Stepping Stone Hospice, accepted the offer without hesitation.

Training, internal and external, forms an important part of the Stepping Stone Hospice & Care Services' vision, and therefore the upskilling of nursing students is one way to ensure that all patients receive the excellent nursing care this hospice is known for.

Sister Sheryl Newman, head of clinical services at Stepping Stone Hospice, explains that regular and updated training is provided to all staff. "Our hospice has also embarked on a programme where we provide the practical training for students studying the theory at various institutions such as the Weiners Training Academy in Sandton."

Bet.Co.Za in Alberton Mall more than went the extra mile on Mandela Day last Wednesday with their visit to Stepping Stone Hospice & Care Services in Alberton. Not only did they volunteer to paint the recently donated Jojo tank, but handed over food parcels to some of the hospice's patients in the In-Patient Unit.

Mandela Day 2018 last Wednesday brought with it some very special moments at Stepping Stone Hospice & Care Services in Alberton. They received a visit from the Gr12 class of the Royal Schools in Albertsdal who not only elected to clean the vegetable patch where the hospice's new extension is soon to be erected, but also met with some of their patients in the In-patient Unit, listening intently to the journeys the patients are on and giving hugs where needed.

Marist Brothers Senior Primary School in Linmeyer handed over a donation of R55 000 on Friday July 13 to Stepping Stone Hospice - funds raised by the learners after a talk by CEO Tersia Burger, at the school on June 8 this year.

The annual "Come Whine with Me" event, hosted by Stepping Stone Hospice especially for the ladies, will this year bring an exclusive element to it - a talk by renowned Colour Therapist, Sonet Erasmus on the impact of colour on our everyday lives.

The heart breaking story of how Stepping Stone Hospice & Care Services was started, was enough inspiration for a group of ladies from Glenvista to jump into action and organize a massive fundraiser in aid of this hospice.

The Ladies' Mad Hatter Tea Party, held on Saturday 30 June at the Art Farm in Eikenhof, resulted in a R75 000 donation towards Stepping Stone Hospice as well as a R5000 Spar voucher.

With only their second tournament held in aid of Stepping Stone Hospice & Care Services, the Alberton Bowls Club has almost doubled the amount raised from the previous year.

An amazing R24 000 was donated to hospice as the 6 week "Stepping Stone Hospice Trips" came to an end on Saturday 30 June 2018. Last year saw an amount of R11 000 raised through this tournament.