Hospices across the UK are gearing up for Hospice Care Week (3 to 9 October) to raise awareness of the hospice care provided by over 220 hospices across the country.

Every year, St. Joseph’s Hospice cares for and supports over 200 people living with a life-limiting illness in the Merseyside area, as well as their families. As a charity, this care is provided free of charge and is unique to the individual, helping those with a life-limiting illness to live life as fully as possible.

The theme for this year’s Hospice Care Week is ‘hospice care is…’ and St. Joseph’s Hospice would like to ask you what ‘hospice care is’ to you? Maybe you don’t really understand what hospices are or maybe you have had first hand experience of hospices – either way we would love to hear from you.

You can support the St. Joseph’s Hospice Hearts4Hospice campaign before and during Hospice Care Week by:

• Taking a photo of yourself, your friends, family or work colleagues making heart shapes with your hands and share it with us on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter with the hashtag #Hearts4Hospice and tell us what ‘hospice care is’ to you.

• Or take time to visit one of our Jospice shops during Hospice Care Week and leave a heart in our shop window sharing what ‘hospice care is’ to you.

• Finally, take part in our Hearts 4 Hospice draw and be in with a chance of winning £1,000 as we have renamed our Jospice lottery for one week only in celebration of Hospice Care Week. Tickets are available for just £1 in all nine of our Jospice shops.

Penny Hamer, Director of Income Generation, said: “We have planned some really exciting activity to mark this year’s Hospice Care Week so that we can help to raise awareness of hospices and the specialist care and support they provide to patients and their families living with a range of life-limiting conditions.

“By sharing your own experience of hospice care, either as a patient, relative, friend, volunteer or supporter of hospices, you’re helping us to show others what ‘hospice care is’ and why we’re here so please get involved and support us.”