Hospice care is about making every day matter for terminally ill people and their families and yesterday (Thursday 7th September) two donkeys helped fulfil one patient’s wishes.

Eric and Mabel travelled from their home at Enchantment Cornwall in Temple to Cornwall Hospice Care’s Mount Edgcumbe Hospice in St Austell.

“Helping people make memories is a vital part of what we do” says Gina Starnes, Clinical Director.

“We’re here to ensure every day matters for our patients and to help them achieve their goals, whether that’s taking a few steps, eating a favourite meal or in this case seeing donkeys. It’s at times like this that our whole team pull together to make magic happen and we’re always grateful for the community’s support too.”

Donkey owner Dannii Simmonds was able to respond to a call out for a visiting donkey and arrived with her Mum Lesley Wright, Eric and Mabel who spent nearly an hour with the patient and with the assembled staff and volunteers who gathered outside the hospice reception.

“It was a very special occasion,” says Senior Nurse Sam Facey.

“The visit lifted everyone’s spirits and it was lovely to see the pleasure our visiting friends brought to everyone. We’d like to thank Dannii and her Mum Lesley for taking time out to help us and to Richard’s Fruit Shop in Par who donated some carrots for our guests. Eric particularly enjoyed the treats.”