ONE OF the main misconceptions about hospices is that people go there to die. Today as East Lancashire Hospice celebrates its 20th birthday, staff, volunteers and patients have spoken out to dispel that myth.

WHEN the doors initially opened at the main specialist palliative care unit for Blackburn, Darwen, Hyndburn and the Ribble Valley, Margaret Weddle was among the first to sign up as a volunteer.

Margaret, 69, of Langho, had nursed her dying mother for 20 weeks when she saw an advertisement for volunteers.

She said: "After dealing with the general public all day at work my head would be spinning but after 10 minutes at the hospice I felt like a different person.

"I think I get more out of it than I give as I find it so relaxing.

"A lot of people think patients come here to die but it's not like that at all, they come here to live."

Norina Yates, 80, of Darwen, also began volunteering on the same day as Margaret.

The retired nurse said: "I still felt I had a lot of caring in me when I had retired so decided to do this.

"You do grow attached to patients but you have to forget about it when you go home. On the other side the greatest pleasure of this role is to see a patient going home. I plan to carry on for as long as I am able to."

In 1999 trustees of the hospice, which serves a population of 520,000, launched an appeal to raise funds to build a new Day Therapy Centre and refurbish the original building.

The work, funded through donations and a National Lottery grant, cost £2.2million and was completed in January 2002.

Now the hospice provides 10 individual in patient rooms; has increased day therapy places from 25 a week to 100, and offers complimentary therapies, physiotherapy, bereavement support, out patient clinics and much more.

Harry Grayson, head of fundraising, said: "Unfortunately what increased services mean are increased costs and although the hospice is partially funded by the NHS, the trustees and fundraisers are now responsible for raising over £400,000 each year.

"So it is vitally important that people from the area continue with their generosity and support."

Around a third of the hospice's 150 volunteers from across the area assist with raising that money through a wide variety of events.

And their efforts are very much appreciated by those who are terminally ill and their families.

Vincent Conroy, 70, of Baxenden, who has cancer of the kidney, has been an inpatient at the hospice four times since Christmas.

He said: "I have a Macmillan nurse who recommended it but at first I didn't want to come in.

"I had heard bad things and I just didn't think it would be how it is.

"I wouldn't want to go anywhere else now and it is marvellous for my wife Joan as she is a 24-hour carer so it gives her a rest while I am here. The staff are marvellous and as soon as you come in you start to feel better."