Search

  • Visit & Contact
  • The Mill
  • Online Shop
  • Log In
  • My Account
  • Log Out

Your local charity in Lancashire

Patrons: Sir Bill Beaumont, Sir Duncan Nichol, Dr Lynne Livesey, Dr St John Crean, Mark Lawrenson and Tisha Merry

Donate
  • Care we provide
    • We help patients and families have quality of life, to the end of life.

    • Column
      • Back
      • the work of the charity is only possible because of the support it receives from the local community.

        Care at the hospice
      • Caring for people at home
      • Medical Outpatient Clinics
      • Lymphoedema clinic
        • Lymphoedema in babies, children and adolescents
      • Referrals and discharge
    • Column
      • Support for carers & family
      • Bereavement and Remembrance
      • Befriending service
      • Compassionate Communities
      • Covid-19 updates
  • Support us
    • Our care is only possible because of the support we receive.

    • Column
      • Back
      • The work of the charity is only possible because of the support it receives from the local community.

        Fundraise for us
        • Organise a fundraiser
        • Give money raised
        • Join in a hospice event
        • Global Adventure Challenges
      • Donate
        • Donation Form
        • Make a monthly donation
        • Make a one-off donation
        • Donate money raised
        • Pledge Gift Aid
      • Play the lottery
        • Lottery terms and conditions, legal information and advice
        • Join our lottery
        • Lottery results
        • Gift cards and wedding favours
        • Update your details
      • Wills
      • 1985 Business Club
    • Column
      • Charity shops
        • Find your nearest shop
        • Donate to our shops
        • Online Shop
      • Volunteering
      • Enter our raffle
      • Yellow Ribbons
  • Events
  • About us
    • We are an independent, local charity working in Central Lancashire.

    • Column
      • Back
      • Our purpose
      • Our team
      • Job vacancies
      • Knowledge Exchange
      • Resources for all
    • Column Two
      • The Mill cafe
      • Room hire
      • Give feedback
      • Lancashire and South Cumbria Hospices Together
      • Our plans
  • News
  • Remembrance Book
  • Donate
St Catherine's Hospice > Patient Stories > Revisiting the Lake District through virtual reality at St Catherine’s Hospice

Revisiting the Lake District through virtual reality at St Catherine’s Hospice

“I mentioned that I’d love to do one last walk in the Lake District, and the hospice nurses arranged for me to have a virtual reality experience. Anything you mention, they try their very best to do something nice for you.”

Tony Dilworth, a dad-of-five and granddad-of-six, had been in hospital before coming to St Catherine’s Hospice, and says the charity is helping to improve his mental health and wellbeing, as well as physical symptoms of pulmonary fibrosis.

“You come in here thinking ‘I can’t do this anymore and I can’t do that’, but they do everything they can to make your time here special and memorable,” Tony says.

“The nurses asked if I have any hobbies so I said that I’ve always enjoyed sports, particularly football, and I like walking in the lakes. The next thing I knew, the IT manager came in with a VR headset and set up some videos of walks in the lakes for me.”

He adds: “My wife Ingrid brought our dog in to see me recently. It’s little touches like that which make a difference. She can see that I’m happy, and the family can visit any time they like. St Catherine’s is definitely the right place for me at this moment in time.”

Tony, from Penwortham, is well known on the Preston football scene, having been involved in coaching and managing as well as playing, most recently at Ingol AFC and the Lancashire Sunday Football League.

“I’d been to The Mill café in the St Catherine’s grounds before, but I’d never been to the hospice itself,” Tony explains. “When I was in hospital I asked if St Catherine’s could be a short-term option for me, for pain and symptom management.

“And when I arrived, I felt at ease almost immediately. It’s so peaceful and everyone is so welcoming and friendly; it’s a really nice environment to be in. I can’t praise it highly enough.

“The staff are so positive and are always trying to find solutions. The doctors sit and really listen to you; they give you information and then ask your opinion about your treatment and care, and they keep checking in to make sure you’re doing ok. They’ve got that time to spend with you, which I’m grateful for.

“There’s also a Support Team who call in and offer help. I’ve spoken to a counsellor and it’s really helped to talk things through with someone. It’s like nothing is too much trouble.”

• If you would like to make a donation in support of our Give a Gift campaign, please click here.

Back to News

Share with your friends!

Newsletter Signup

Sign up to our newsletter and receieve updates on our charity, successful fundraising events and much more!

Sign up

Sign up to our newsletter

Sign up to our newsletter and receieve updates on our charity, successful fundraising events and much more!

    Required

    Required

    Count me in!

    We'd love to keep in touch with you letting you know how your wonderful support is making a difference to St Catherine's, and informing you about other events and campaigns which might be of interest. We’re very proud of our ethical approach to fundraising and, rest assured, your information will be stored securely and we will not pass your details to any third party.

    Please let us know your preferred way(s) for us to contact you:

    Post

    Email

    Phone

    SMS Message

    For further information about how we use your data, please click here to read our privacy statement.

    Count me in!

    You’re a valued member of the St Catherine’s community and we’d love to keep in touch with all the latest news, events and campaigns from the charity. Let us know the best way to contact you by clicking below.

    Count me in!

    Visit Us

    Connect with us

    Connect with us on social media to keep up to date with the daily news from St Catherine’s and our cafe and community hub The Mill.

    Rate and review our services

    Patrons: Sir Bill Beaumont, Sir Duncan Nichol, Dr Lynne Livesey, Dr St John Crean, Mark Lawrenson and Tisha Merry

    © 2025 St Catherine’s Hospice Reg Charity No: 512186 Company Limited by Guarantee: 1602467

    • Privacy policy and use of Cookies
    • Accessibility Statement
    • Sitemap
    • Chair’s pension statement

    St Catherine’s Hospice, St Catherine’s Park, Lostock Lane, Lostock Hall, Preston, PR5 5XU

    Designed and built by BlueWrenBlueWren

    Boost your donation by 25%

    With Gift Aid, your donation of £ would be worth £ at no extra cost to you.

    Added to your basket

    Continue Shopping Go to Basket