Our History
We began as a charity by starting work in Romania in 1992. At that time, there was no hospice care whatsoever available in the country. Cancer patients had little or no pain relief and were often simply left to die in pain. The health system was corrupt and many people avoided seeking medical help as they could not afford to pay a bribe.
Graham Perolls, Founder of Hospices of Hope, started by setting up an Anglo-Romanian charity partnership with 10 Romanian and 10 UK members. The name given to the charity was Hospice Casa Sperantei (Home of Hope in Romanian). The appeal to raise funds for Romania in the UK was originally launched through the Ellenor Hospice (which Graham had founded in 1985), but in 2000, a separate charity was established called Hospices of Hope.
Other countries in the region had similar problems and so we extended our work into Serbia in 2006, the Republic of Moldova in 2008, Albania in 2019, Greece in 2021 and Ukraine in 2022.
All services provided by our country partners are free of charge to patients.
Our journey
Trustees of the Ellenor Foundation in Kent agreed to launch the Romania Appeal to raise funds for hospice care in Romania.
Hospice Casa Sperantei established in Brasov as an Anglo-Romanian hospice charity. Romania’s first hospice home care team for adult patients was launched.
Children’s hospice team started in Brasov, Romania.
Opening of the Princess Diana Hospice Education Centre in Brasov. The centre provides training in Palliative care for health care professionals.
Hospices of Hope launched a sister charity in the USA.
Hospice Casa Sperantei was recognised by the Open Society Institute as a “Palliative Care Beacon in South Eastern Europe”. The study, carried out by the University of Sheffield, encouraged Hospice Casa Sperantei to develop a regional role in the Balkans.
The official opening of the first in-patient hospice in Brasov, Romania.
In response to the 2001 study and report, Hospices of Hope launched its Beacon Appeal, which raised £1 million to promote and develop palliative care in the region.
The Nicholas Edeleanu Institute was opened in Bucharest as a National Palliative Care Resource Centre.
A home care team and a hospital support team launched in Bucharest. The initial step to create an international network was taken when Hospices of Hope established a partnership with BELhospice Hospice in Serbia.
Moldova was added to the Network initially through a partnership with a hospice organisation in Chisinau, the capital of Moldova. Two mobile services were introduced in Fagaras and Zarnesti in Brasov County.
The Romanian Ministry of Health signed a national partnership agreement with Hospice Casa Sperantei.
The site for new hospice in Bucharest was purchased. Hospice Emanual in Oradea became our second Romanian partner to support the northern part of the country.
The Florescu family donated its summer estate at Copaceni as a centre for children and families affected by rare or life-limiting illnesses.
Graham was made a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George for rendering 22 years’ of extraordinary service in a foreign country.
The official opening of the new Hospice in Bucharest took place with the Duchess of Norfolk and HRH Dominic Habsburg cutting the ribbon.
Hospices of Hope celebrated the 25th anniversary of the launch of the Romanian Appeal.
Hospice Casa Sperantei celebrated its 25th anniversary. As part of the celebrations His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales visited the Hospice in Bucharest.
A new project to create and support a national network of hospices throughout the country was launched in Moldova.
Technology services to help patients were introduced in Romania.
The official opening of:
• the children’s respite and therapy centre, Adunatii Copaceni, Romania.
• the Hospice Centre in Belgrade, Serbia.
Hospices of Hope Albania established. Supporting a network of palliative care organisations.
Hospices of Hope celebrated the 30th anniversary of the launch of the Romanian appeal. Greece was added to the network and partnerships established with Merimna (children’s palliative care team) and Nosilia (adult palliative care team) in Athens.
Help for Ukraine appeal is launched in response to the war and the Regional Palliative Care Centre Ivano-Frankivsk in Western Ukraine officially becomes part of the Hospices of Hope network.
To read more, find our full story here in our Journey of Hope publication:
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