Chief Executive Karyn Johnston received a special surprise to coincide with 10 years of service at East Cheshire Hospice.
Karyn was given a prestigious award for community service by Clare Hayward MBE DL, the High Sheriff of Cheshire.
The award, made at Art Fair Cheshire, recognised Karyn’s efforts leading a team which continues to put the Hospice at the forefront of end-of-life care.
Karyn joined the Hospice as head of income generation before assuming the role of chief executive six years ago.
Karyn said: “This recognition only came to me because I work with great people. I know this award is down to the team effort.
“I was embarrassed to receive a personal accolade which really belongs to my colleagues and others who support the Hospice in many different ways.”
Karyn Johnston (left) with Clare Hayward MBE DL, the High Sheriff of Cheshire.
The Hospice cared for a record 1,277 patients and thousands of family members last year, further illustrating its value to the community.
Karyn said: “Last year, via all our services, we helped the most patients in any single year in the Hospice’s history.
“That was before the extension of our new Sunflower Living Well Centre, which opened in April, so we can probably expect that figure to go up this year.
“Our aim is to help more patients year-on-year. We are driven by the needs of the community.
“For instance, we realised that people in the community wanted more care at home, so we added two more teams to our Hospice @Home service.
“This doubled the number of our teams serving our community in the comfort of their own homes.
“Our ambition does not diminish in the slightest. We’ll soon be announcing another big project to make end-of-life care even more accessible.”
The 25th year of the Art Fair was once again a major success, raising vital funds for the Hospice.
A VIP gathering to launch the fair raised a substantial sum from the sale of artwork, setting a pattern of generous giving which continued during the week-long event.
Karyn said: “The Art Fair was yet another glorious example of a superb collective effort, involving artists, buyers, sponsors and other supporters, including our wonderful volunteers.”
Art created by schools and colleges added to the community feel, as did a special display by those who access childhood bereavement counselling at the Hospice.
Guests included key Hospice sponsors and supporters, including Macclesfield MP Tim Roca.
Sponsors were AstraZeneca, The Little Greene Paint Company, Thorneycroft Solicitors, Estate Planning Solutions and MacPac.