HAHAV, the charity which provides care for people with incurable diseases, is celebrating its third birthday.

Here, one of the founding board members, Anita Rogers, tells of all their hard work and looks to the future...

Three years ago an event took place at the National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth, which drew over 100 people from the local community.

Led by Dr Alan Axford, this event marked the beginning of HAHAV (Hospice at Home Aberystwyth Volunteers).

Many of those 100 people eventually became volunteers and have played pivotal roles in its extraordinary journey.

Anyone who has seen our leaflets will recognise the following statements.

The guiding purpose of HAHAV has been ‘to provide practical, social and emotional support to those with advanced, incurable, and progressive illness and their carers, in the privacy of their own homes.’

The service complements and works closely with the specialist palliative care team, GPs, district nurses and other health, third-sector and social care professionals who provide palliative care locally.

To that end, sitting volunteers have contributed over 5,000 hours over three years involving 1,600 visits providing everything from companionship to dog walking.

What motivates someone to give so generously of their time, and energy?

Here is what one volunteer said: “When the next of kin say thank you in their hour of need, it touches my heart.”

And here is just one of many comments from those they have served: “I would like to say thank you to HAHAV on behalf of my mum and dad.

“Nothing was too much trouble... Mum died peacefully at home.”

Equally generous have been the volunteers who have donated more than 18,000 hours over the last three years to help run so successfully the HAHAV charity shop on Pier Street.

Their time, attention and commitment have provided HAHAV with one of its most important sources of funding.

See this week’s south papers for the full feature, available in shops and as a digital edition now