A FAMILY member or close friend passing away can be an incredibly difficult time for any one to deal with.

But there are a handful of people in the world that dedicate their life’s work to end-of-life care.

Among them is complementary therapist Becky Fletcher.

The mum-of-two has dedicated more than two decades to supporting people through some of the toughest times to help keep them comfortable in their final days.

This has been through her role as complementary therapist at Sobell House Hospice in Oxford and as founder of not-for-profit organisation Greenfields that supports people with life-limiting and terminal illnesses.

She said: “I have always been a compassionate person and a real people person.

“I had my own therapy business from home and I had some clients who were suffering with cancer or undergoing treatment. I just really enjoyed what I was doing and helping them, so I approached Sobell House myself and said I would love to offer my services to the hospice.”

Mrs Fletcher has worked with patients, who have terminal illnesses, at Sobell House Hospice for the past seven years and been a complimentary therapist for 22 years.

She said although she has always wanted to help and care for people, personal bereavements have had an influence on her career.

Mrs Fletcher said: “At the age of 24 I had already lost my father and my daughter, which obviously left a huge whole in my life.

“The loss of a parent or a child is very difficult for anyone let alone when you’re so young.

“My daughter was stillborn in 2002 and my way of dealing with that was to start up a support group Born for Heaven to help other woman.

“It was a way to deal with my own emotions by helping others.

“I had also lost my father when I was 15, I was obviously very young but the experience I gained from this I can now put towards Greenfields.”

In 2014 Mrs Fletcher, whilst continuing work at Sobell House Hospice, set up The Hummingbird Cancer Support and Therapy Centre, in Launton, Bicester.

After dedicating many months to supporting those affected by cancer in Bicester she made the decision to leave The Hummingbird Centre to branch into helping people with all kinds of illnesses.

She said: “A lot of the patients were coming in with different illnesses and we obviously were cancer based. I just felt I needed to move on and use my energy to set up Greenfields.

“I gained so much experience in the first four years at Sobell and really that was where my inspiration came from.

“My family and I are very much Bicester born and bred so I knew there was a need for this kind of service.”

Mrs Fletcher set up Greenfields as a complementary therapy service for people with long-term illnesses or terminal illnesses.

This includes supporting patients, families and carers to overcome stress, anxiety, depression and pain through its drop-in sessions or home visits.

The drop-in sessions are held every Tuesday from 10.30am to 3pm for all ages and from 3pm to 4.30pm for people aged 16 to 30.

This is alongside her role as an events coordinator for the Wooden Spoon charity that helps fund sporting projects to support disadvantaged and disabled children.

Mrs Fletcher added: “A lot of patients always say life is very precious and to live it to its fullest – I get that an awful lot.

“It can affect you obviously, it would do any human being working in end of life care.

“Some people really touch you in a way you wouldn’t imagine especially if you have cared for them for two or three years.

“Greenfields especially we don’t stop there with the patients it is about supporting those around them also as you get to know the family and we still have people who have lost a loved one coming along three years after.”

Mrs Fletcher hopes to develop and expand Greenfields over the coming years to help more people through illness not just in Bicester but further afield.

She added: “I am very lucky my family [husband Simon Fletcher, sons Henry 12 and Joseph 9] are incredibly supportive and believe in what I do.

“I wouldn’t be able to do this without their support and my team at Greenfields who are just amazing.”

Whilst expanding Greenfields Mrs Fletcher said over the coming years her focus is on her family and spending as much time as possible with them and their pet dogs.

For more details on Greenfield see greenfields-support.co.uk or http://bit.ly/2ln7xL7