At last Tuesday's dinner meeting, members of the Rotary Club of Tenby enjoyed the company of two representatives of the Paul Sartori Foundation, Sophie Thomas and Sarah Alderman.

Sarah, a trustee of the foundation, explained that its annual expenditure is now in excess of £900,000 and only 25 per cent of this comes from public funds. The remaining 72 per cent has to be raised and its two main sources of income are its shops, currently nine in Pembrokeshire, and donations from organisations like Rotary and individuals.

Paul Sartori was a Catholic priest who recognised the need for hospice care in Pembrokeshire. Unfortunately he died at just 39-years-old, but a group of people formed the foundation in his memory and it is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. The foundation now employs 35 staff, both nursing and administrative, but relies on over 200 volunteers who work in the shops etc.

Sophie is the foundation's Matron and is in charge of its clinical side. She emphasised that Paul Sartori is a Pembrokeshire only charity and is the country's only 'Hospice at Home' service which is free of charge and is available 24/7. The nursing staff work alongside NHS and Macmillan Nurses, but there is no duplication of duties.

She dismissed various misconceptions regarding Paul Sartori such as the service is not just for Catholics (it is non-denominational), it is not just for Haverfordwest (it covers the whole of Pembrokeshire), it is not just for cancer sufferers (persons with any life-limiting disease are eligible) and it is not just for the last few days of the person's life.

Sophie also outlined the numerous additional services provided by Paul Sartori over and above the hands-on home nursing care. These include counselling and support, bereavement service, equipment loan, complementary therapy, volunteer visitors, specialist clinical nursing and physiotherapy.

Paul Sartori is truly a wonderful Pembrokeshire based 'Hospice and Home' charity. The people of Pembrokeshire should be proud of the foundation. The Rotary Club of Tenby is pleased to make regular contributions and will continue to do so.

Anyone wising to learn more about the Paul Sartori Foundation or perhaps make a donation should telephone 01437 763223 or visit http://www.paulsartori.org">www.paulsartori.org