As Volunteers’ Week (2–8 June) approaches, Sue Ryder St John’s Hospice in Moggerhanger is celebrating the kindness and dedication of its many volunteers, including four-legged friend Jack and his owner, Richard Marlton, from Bromham.
Jack, a four-year-old Cockapoo, brings comfort, companionship, and calm to patients receiving end-of-life care. He’s a fully registered Pets as Therapy (PAT) dog, and each week, he and Richard visit the hospice, brightening the days of patients, relatives, and staff alike.
For Richard, 77, volunteering with Jack is deeply personal. His wife Jean spent her final weeks at Sue Ryder St John’s Hospice in March 2024, and it was her wish for Jack to continue offering the same comfort to others that he gave to her.
“From the first day, I slept in the same room as Jean, and from the second day, Jack slept with us, too,” said Richard. “Sometimes it was a race between Jack and me to get the best spot on the put-up bed — and he usually won. The care we received was second to none.”
Jean and Richard had begun the process of registering Jack as a PAT dog in 2023. When Jean became unwell, they had to pause the plan, but Richard was determined to carry on in her memory.
Jack passed his assessment soon after Jean’s funeral, and by August 2024, the pair were back at the hospice, this time as volunteers.
“Since Jean died, volunteering has given me something to focus on,” said Richard.
“Everyone at the hospice is so friendly, and they value volunteers. We were all given thank-you gifts recently, and I received one for both me and Jack — some dog treats, a bottle of wine, and a sign that said: ‘A spoilt dog named Jack lives here’. It was lovely.”
Jean chose Jack before her cancer diagnosis. From the moment he joined their home in 2021, she said he would make a great therapy dog — and it turns out she was right.
“Volunteering with Jack is the most worthwhile thing I have ever done in my life,” said Richard. “It can be hard, but it can also be uplifting. Sue Ryder Nurses have told me that patients and relatives have said how much it has helped them. That feels good to know.”
Emma Chaston, Healthcare Volunteer Coordinator at Sue Ryder St John’s Hospice, said, “We feel so lucky to have Richard and Jack on our team.
Their presence brings such joy and comfort to everyone they meet. Our volunteers offer support, kindness and a friendly face, right when it’s needed most.”
Sue Ryder is encouraging others to consider volunteering during this year’s Volunteers’ Week. From supporting healthcare teams to lending a hand at fundraising events, a wide range of roles is available.
To find out more about volunteering at Sue Ryder St John’s Hospice in Moggerhanger, email emma.chaston1@sueryder.org.
