THE former chief executive of Derbyshire's Treetops Hospice has died following a long battle with cancer.

Clare Janes was the hospice's first chief executive and, during her seven years there, worked to bring about a huge rise in the number of people it helped.

The 52-year-old was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2006 but continued to work around her chemotherapy treatment.

It was only in February this year that she retired due to her health, after first taking up the post in 2002.

Richard Thomas, secretary of the Risley hospice, said: "There was a phenomenal increase in activity of almost 200% during her time at the hospice, which shows just how much the core purpose of Treetops – to support as many people with life-limiting illness as possible – grew under Clare's leadership."

During her time at the helm, the hospice's income grew from £522,147 in the financial year 2001 to 2002 to £1.47m seven years later.

And there was also a huge rise in how many people it helped. The number of people attending day care rose from 1,352 to 2,393; bereavement support sessions rose from 207 to 1,044; and home care went from 6,142 to 19,160.

Mr Thomas said: "I really appreciated her vision and found her to be a very inspiring speaker.

"I particularly remember the first staff meeting that she addressed and how her vision and enthusiasm made us feel that we were not only in safe hands but that we had a leader who was passionate about providing a service that gave people real choices about end-of-life care."

A keen amateur photographer and jewellery-maker, Clare was a qualified nurse who lived in Marshall Street, Heanor, with her partner, Paul Cropper.

She had three grown-up daughters – Laura, Helen and Jenny – and Laura was pregnant with Clare's first grandchild at the time of Clare's death on October 17.

Kathy Longden, director of clinical services, said: "She was involved in every aspect of the running of the hospice, from retail management to fund-raising. She worked so hard to bring the organisation to where it was but she didn't take the credit herself, she always bounced it back on to her managers – that was one of her most endearing qualities."

Mrs Longden said that, by the time Clare's cancer was diagnosed, it was at quite an advanced stage so all that the medics could do was use chemotherapy to try and stop it getting worse.

Mrs Longden said: "Clare came to work during chemotherapy and after it. She was an incredibly stoical and inspirational leader."

Her funeral is at 12.30pm on Thursday, October 29, at Bramcote Crematorium.

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