Christmas comes early to Sobell House

A senior lecturer at Oxford Brookes University has led a fundraising initiative that has raised over £12,000 to install 20 new televisions for patients at Sobell House.  

Patients have also been given remote controls and headphones to further enjoy the television upgrade that Mike Dennis from Headington, Oxford, secured for the hospice after his wife passed away at Sobell House in August 2014. 

Mike, a Senior Lecturer in Primary Science at the University's School of Education, said: "My lovely wife Rachel died in Sobell House after living with cancer for 11 years. She spent the last two weeks of her life at the hospice and although she was very frightened at the prospect of being admitted, it quickly proved to be just right for her. 

"I cannot speak highly enough of the staff and the love and the care they provided for Rachel, me and my family. It is a truly special place - not a phrase I would use lightly. 

"When we spent time in Rachel's room there was always one particular aspect that we talked about which we said could do with some TLC of its own. That was the television system! 

"Each room had a wall-mounted television for which you had to pay £10 a day to use. The televisions have a difficult login procedure and when you finally switch the television on the picture and sound quality is poor."

After Rachel passed away, Mike promised himself that he would do his best to influence a change and it was agreed, with the help of local MP Andrew Smith, that the franchise agreement currently in place at Sobell House can be put aside and replaced with easy-to-use, high quality televisions. 

Earlier this year Mike organised a charity fundraising day at Oxford Brookes University and asked his colleagues and students to donate money to dress up as their favourite children's television characters for the day.   

Rachel's family also supported the initiative and raised over £2,000 with a combination of a triathlon, bike rides and family walks.   

The main fundraiser was a big party held at the beginning of October where family, friends and work colleagues came together and paid over £5,000 to dance the night away to a live band at Exeter Hall in Kidlington.    

Mike continues: "The fundraising was a real team effort, so many local people have helped and been very generous with their time and their cash, whilst those further away have been no less generous. I am very grateful to Rachel's family who took on various physical challenges."    

Tim Harrison, Clinical Lead at Sobell House says: "As well as medical care, one of the most important aspects of hospice care is to ensure that every patient has a home from home feeling. We want our patients to feel as content and happy as they possibly can at such a difficult time. 

"Little things, such as having your favourite drink or being able to watch your favourite programme, can be so important to many of our patients. It can make such a huge difference to their day.  

"We are so grateful to Mike for his efforts and his commitment. The patients on our ward have embraced having an upgrade of televisions so we want to take this opportunity to say a huge, huge thank you to Mike. Along with the drinks trolley I am sure this will bring some kind of happiness to those people who are suffering with a terminal illness." 

Mike raised a total of £12,500 and funded the installation of eleven 40" televisions and nine smaller screen to go in the bays of three on the ward. 

Read more on Mike and Rachel's story on the Sobell House website.

Further donations to Mike's Sobell House fundraising page can be made here: The Sobellevision Project's Just Giving page.