On Wednesday 10 July 2019 the facade of the Library of Birmingham will be lit up pink to celebrate the 40th anniversary of St. Mary's Hospice.

This year, Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice is celebrating its 40th anniversary of providing hospice care across Birmingham and Sandwell.

The Hospice was founded by a remarkable woman called Monica Pearce in 1979. Upon retiring from her NHS nursing career in 1974, Monica decided to use her knowledge to ‘enable anyone with a life-limiting illness to live their life to the full’ – a mission that the Hospice’s staff and volunteers still stand by today. It was this determination to provide better pain relief and care that led to her idea of founding a hospice. ‘St Mary’s Hospice’ became the first independent hospice in the Midlands and only the seventh nationwide. She envisioned the Hospice to be for people of all faiths and none, to support patients as well as loved ones, and, essentially, to provide comfort for local people nearing the end of their lives. Pearce’s ambition was finally realised on March 5th 1979 when ‘St Mary’s Hospice’ admitted its first ever patient. She worked tirelessly to raise more than £350,000, and her commitment continued unwavering throughout her life. Monica's legacy of providing the very best end of life care continues to inspire staff and volunteers every day.

In 2019, Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice is caring for more people than ever before – providing support in people’s homes, in the community and at the Hospice in Selly Park. Since admitting its first patient its services have grown and evolved and it now looks after 400 people on any given day.

For more information about Birmingham Hospice, visit their website.

Article posted 10 July 2019