Hospice volunteer and PAT Dog sign up to Star Shine Night Walk

Heather Hancock and her PAT dog Leo, have signed up, for the first time, to walk Star Shine Night Walk in Cambridge on Saturday 20 June.

They have been volunteering for Arthur Rank Hospice Charity since 2025 and know first hand the difference the care makes. Heather shared:

“Before I volunteered at the Hospice I thought it would be a sombre place. What I found was a truly beautiful and restful place for people with all manner of conditions. Not just for patients but also families. The staff are incredible – kindness shines from every person I meet who works and volunteers there.”

Leo is a big dog who weighs about 80lbs and is almost five feet tall. The benefit is that, when invited, he can put his head on to the patient’s bed in the Inpatient Unit or on their lap in the Living Well Service Lounge. Heather added:

“He is an incredibly perceptive dog and instinctively knows when to be quiet, when to give a cuddle or when to rest his head on people’s laps. He is amazing at the Hospice and we have had some great conversations with patients and their loved ones about their homes, their pets and their lives. He has also made many people laugh out loud with his antics.”

Heather shared her reasons for taking part at Star Shine Night Walk:

“Following the funding cuts last year and my own experience of volunteering at the Charity I wanted to do whatever I could to support it.

I feel lucky to be part of an amazing team of volunteers and staff at Arthur Rank Hospice Charity where everyone has the same aim, which is to make the experience at the Hospice as welcoming, calm and supportive as we can.

Knowing that, on the night every step will make a difference to people in Cambridgeshire living with an advanced serious illness or other life-limiting condition and those who need end of life care, will keep us going.

Leo and I will be proud to help keep the Charity funded so that it can care for many more people.”

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If you would like to join Heather and Leo at Star Shine Night Walk for a 5 or 10 mile walk through Cambridge, for Hospice Care, please visit arhc.org.uk/SSNW or telephone 01223 675888.