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A Bath to Remember

To celebrate the life of Castle Vale man Paul Martin, his Family gave thousands of people dignity and relaxation by helping pay for a state of the art bath at John Taylor Hospice.

Paul’s wife Donna said: “Paul was cared for at John Taylor Hospice for over a year after being diagnosed with renal cell cancer and dying on 4 October 2010. I will always remember the kindness and care our whole family received right from the start.

“Paul was such a kind and generous man; I know he’d be so pleased with the impact the new bath will have on other people’s lives.”

Donna, Danny and Kate Phipps with the new bath at John Taylor Hospice. Kate is CEO at John Taylor Hospice and works shifts as a health care assistant. Credit Brendan Farrell.

The League of Friends of John Taylor Hospice, a dedicated group of volunteers who support the Hospice, were instrumental in backing the bath. The remaining funding, over £7,600, was raised at a charity football match last year which The Martin family organised alongside Danny Ryan MBE.

John Taylor Hospice provides expert palliative care and lifeline emotional support to the people of Birmingham and the West Midlands. The Hospice’s In Patient Unit, where Paul stayed, has beds for up to 14 people and space for family to stay.

Donna added: “When you’re living with cancer it’s the small things which can make a huge difference: when Paul entered the In Patient Unit our children Kirsty and Reece visited him most days before school. On top of that Paul felt at ease and was completely safe. You can’t put a price on that.”

The hydro-therapy bath, which emits soothing music and soft light, will be used every day by patients. The bath’s state-of-the-art hoist means people who struggle to bathe at home can be warm, clean and experience the near-weightless rest of a bath.

Danny Ryan added: “It’s wonderful that the funds our community raised have been spent on something tangible that will be a legacy for Paul for many years to come. Having visited John Taylor Hospice a number of times I can vouch for the work they do; it’s truly remarkable.”

You can make a difference to the lives of thousands of people in Birmingham and the West Midlands by fundraising with John Taylor Hospice. Call Sarah Jayne on 0121 465 2018.