Thank you Maria – over £14K+ raised!
Celebrating Hospice volunteer Maria, who has raised an extraordinary sum for the Dementia Wellbeing East London music groups she volunteers at.
Our staff came together this week to congratulate Dementia Wellbeing East London (DWEL) volunteer, Maria, who set out last year to raise money for the dementia-friendly music groups she volunteers at to help ensure they continue. Since she began her fundraiser, she has raised a phenomenal sum of £14,460 and counting.
Maria, centre, is pictured with Rach Underhill, DWEL Team Manager, left, and St Joseph’s Hospice CEO Dr Rachel Black, right
Rach, DWEL Team Manager said: “For people with dementia, music can be an amazing ‘connector’, which is why we set up regular music groups for our community. When our volunteer Maria came along to support for the first time and found out we needed to fundraise to run them, she made it her mission to help! She has been unstoppable ever since and we are so very grateful for her.”
We’re overwhelmed with her brilliant fundraising efforts, and want to say a big thank you to Maria and her friends and loved ones who have donated to the fundraiser so far. Thanks to them, the groups can continue making an impact for the local people with dementia who attend each month.
About Dementia Wellbeing East London
Our Dementia Wellbeing East London service (DWEL) is a person-centred support programme designed to improve quality of life for people living with moderate-to-advanced dementia, and their families. After seeing success in the use of music for connecting with people in dementia during 1:1 sessions, the team launched a regular music group for local people with dementia to come together and enjoy music in a group setting, with percussion instruments provided and dancing encouraged!
Since the groups began, they’ve gone from strength to strength, often having a ‘full house’ of 48 attendees. They are also able to provide transport, meaning that often people who have been housebound can attend – one attendee hadn’t left the house in three years before coming to the sessions. The sessions are an opportunity to meet other people with dementia and form connections, and they receive brilliant feedback from attendees and carers.
Find out more
- Read about the Dementia Wellbeing East London service, including our groups and how to make referrals
- Become a Dementia Wellbeing East London volunteer
- Donate to Maria’s fundraising page
