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In what can only be described as a heart-breaking family tragedy, Stepping Stone Hospice recently admitted two sisters to its In-Patient Unit, both diagnosed with stage 4 brain cancer. Olinda Brown (65) had been a patient of Stepping Stone Hospice for the most part of the past two years, first diagnosed with breast cancer and later brain cancer in February 2019. Her sister Gorette Cordeiro (59), was diagnosed with cancer in March 2018.

Whilst there is still uncertainty whether the annual 947 Cycle Challenge will take place this year, one of Stepping Stone Hospice’s regular charity team cyclists, Megan Tandy, silently went about trying to raise funds for her beloved charity.

A mere two weeks after being diagnosed with stage 3 lung cancer, the 50-year old Katrien de Beer from Elsburg, Germiston, tested positive for Covid 19. Her journey since the 19th March this year, when she was placed in isolation in the ICU wards in the Netcare Union Hospital where she spent her days and nights on a ventilator, can only be described as severely traumatic.

It could not be more timely that the World Health Organization designated 2020 as the International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife. The courageous work of nurses and other healthcare workers in face of coronavirus does honour the YONM 2020 and the 200th anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birth on 12th May, now celebrated as International Nurses Day.

Stepping Stone Hospice’s Centre for Palliative Learning in New Market Park, Alberton, continues to gain credibility on a national level. In March this year their training centre became the second hospice training centre in South Africa to have earned an accreditation for their home based care training programme.

Stepping Stone Hospice & Care Services in New Market Park, Alberton, achieved the almost impossible during Lockdown 2020 – in a matter of three weeks, and with the help of the community, Stepping Stone Hospice increased its palliative care capacity from an 8-bed In-Patient Unit to a 13-bed In-Patient Unit!

Scenes of an emotional reunion played out at the Stepping Stone Hospice In-Patient Unit in New Market Park on Tuesday 25 February 2020 when hospice patient, Irineia Perreira popped in to greet the staff and CEO, Tersia Burger.

Anatomic Sportswear on Friday handed over a personalised cycling kit valued at R4000 to Stepping Stone Hospice cyclist, Nick Erasmus, who as an individual, raised the most funds for the hospice’s charity cycling team in the 2019 Discovery 947 Ride Joburg.

No better way to celebrate not only Valentine’s Day, but also your birthday, with those you love and treasure the most. Stepping Stone Hospice patient, Louise McIntyre, celebrated her 75th birthday on Friday in the hospice’s garden with her sister, her twin sons and a granddaughter “and the hospice staff of course, who I believe are all angels and hand-picked by God Himself.”

Time to dust off the golf clubs, polish the shoes and get ready to team up with your mate in the Stepping Stone Hospice Annual “Tee for Two” Golf Day, to be held on Thursday April 16, 2020 at Reading Country Club!

Stepping Stone Hospice’s Centre of Palliative Learning has reached a historical milestone in January 2020 when their first group of 30 Home Based Care Assistant students were successfully placed in the workplace to complete their six-month practical experience.

In many ways 2019 was a good year, a year where we managed to raise above the many challenges Non-Profit Organizations are faced with, a year where once again, our beautiful community rallied behind us and got us through some very difficult times.

One or two (or maybe more) phone calls, and it was decided…. Pietie is to visit his friend in the In-Patient Unit at Stepping Stone Hospice in New Market Park. After all, they have been together since 2015, never a day apart, they are each other companions and they have a lot to catch up on.

After weeks of careful planning and construction, the key to a beautiful new nurse’s tea room has officially been handed over to Stepping Stone Hospice CEO, Tersia Burger, on Friday November 1, 2019, by Pastor Alan Sutton on behalf of the Doxa Deo church in Meyersdal.

For many of us the approaching year-end festivities and Christmas celebrations brings with it moments of sadness as we remember those who are no longer with us. At Stepping Stone Hospice we understand this possibly better than most and have therefore decided to host a tree-lighting ceremony on Saturday November 30, 2019, a ceremony that can be seen as a beacon of hope, strength and a celebration of life.

As part of the annual 10-day Cancervive Ride, the HOMEMAKERS Care team joined the Cancervive riders, survivors and supporters on their journey at their awareness show at Reef Tankers, Germiston on Wednesday, October 9, 2019.

The Grade 3 learners at Glenanda Primary last week donated R30 400 to Stepping Stone Hospice & Care Services, funds raised in memory of one of their Grade 3 teachers who passed away at the Stepping Stone Hospice’s In-patient Unit in January this year. The funds were generated through a Cake & Candy Sale held earlier this year.

CEO of Hospice, Tersia Burger, attended the schools assembly on Thursday the 10th of October, and in accepting the cheque, thanked the learners and the staff of the school for their kindness, assuring them that the funds will be used to “continue the care provided to those facing the effects of a life-limiting illness.”

Diesel Bro's, a diesel wholesale company situated in Aspen Hills, recently paid Stepping Stone Hospice & Care Services a visit, delivering a bakkie-load of items from the hospice’s Wish List. “Thank you to Joe Dias and the rest of his amazing team for this wonderful donation!

The Shuffling Walking Team donated a whopping R140 000 to Stepping Stone Hospice & Care Services on Monday October 7, 2019, funds raised at their 8th Annual Family Fun Walk that took place on Sunday 28 July 2019 in Bedfordview.

Great excitement prevailed on the Stepping Stone Hospice premises on Thursday October 10 when the first draw (September draw) of their Club 2000 took place under the watchful eyes of auditor, Andre van Zyl and two representatives from the National Lotteries Commission.