Drive is close to Gemma’s heart
9:35am Thursday 9th September 2010 in News
ACTRESS Gemma Atkinson has an extra personal reason for giving her support to the Building A New Hospice For Bury campaign.
Bury Hospice is close to Gemma’s heart because her great uncle, professional snooker player John Spencer, was cared for by staff at the Dumers Lane facility.
The three-times world champion was 70 years old when he died at the hospice in July, 2006 after losing his battle with stomach cancer.
Mr Spencer, from Radcliffe, was a key figure behind snooker’s big rise in popularity in the 1960s and 1970s.
He won the world snooker title in 1969, 1971 and 1977, and became a respected presenter for the BBC after his retirement from the game.
Former Hollyoaks star Gemma, aged 25, said: “The care my great uncle John received at the hospice was fantastic. The staff and volunteers do such a great job.
“It was very comforting for him to be so close to his family and friends, so they could come and visit him in his final days.
“The hospice was very different to a hospital ward. My auntie told me he had his own room which was really nice and homely. She also said the staff went out of their way to make him as comfortable as possible, nothing was too much trouble.”
She added: “My family still talks about how well he was cared for. It’s often the little things that really count. For example, making sure patients are dressed every day and allowing visitors at any time. I don’t think he would have received that level of care elsewhere.”
Gemma, a former pupil at Castlebrook High School in Unsworth, is already a keen supporter of the hospice.
She was the special guest at the hospice’s Party in the Park fundraiser in July held at Close Park.
Gemma is unable to attend today’s launch event at Debenhams, because she is performing in This is How it Goes at The King’s Head Theatre in Islington.
But she has promised to visit the hospice when she returns to her home town in October.
And she is encouraging local people to do their bit and raise money for the new building.
She said: “I’d urge anyone with any fun or interesting ideas to help raise the remaining money needed for the new hospice. Every little bit helps.
“I’d like to see the people of Bury come together as a community and support the hospice. After all, we’re lucky to have a service like this and you never know if you, a member of your family or a friend will need a hospice in the future.
“I’d like to say a huge thank you to all of the staff at Bury Hospice, who work so hard and do such a fantastic job. Not only did they help my great uncle John be as comfortable as possible in his final days, they also provide this fantastic service for hundreds of people in Bury.”
