THANK YOU, SHAMMI – CELEBRATING SIX YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE

During these two terms as a trustee, Shammi has brought fresh ideas, professional expertise and a tireless commitment to the charity. He has worked closely with all sections of the community, forging new relationships and raising awareness of ellenor’s work supporting patients and their families.

Colleagues say his contribution has left a lasting mark on the organisation. “Shammi has been a passionate champion for ellenor, helping more people understand the love, care and support we provide,” a spokesperson said. “We are deeply grateful for everything he has done.”

But Shammi’s connection to the charity is far from over. Even as the 71-year-old father and grandfather continues to recover from a life-changing illness - which earlier this year required a ten-hour operation to remove his pancreas, spleen, half his stomach and his gall bladder - he remains determined to support ellenor.

Shammi once again joined the Twilight Walk in his trademark orange Jaffa Cake costume, this time walking in memory of his sister, Elizabeth Sunita Bhutani, who died in February. He was accompanied by around 20friends from the Gurdwara Sikh temple in Gravesend, walking shoulder to shoulder with more than 1,000 others of all ages, faiths and backgrounds - a moving tribute of solidarity and community spirit.

At the halfway point, walkers were welcomed into the Gurdwara, where volunteers served fresh bhajis - a gesture of hospitality that captured the warmth and inclusivity of the event. While ellenor hosts the Twilight Walk, the Sikh community plays a vital part in its success, bringing people together in a spirit of generosity and shared purpose.

Shammi said: “Everybody joins in with community events. There will always be room for celebration, whether that be Christmas, Vaisakhi or Diwali. We all work hard and need to celebrate what we have achieved.

“In the present climate it gets harder and harder to raise money. How many money boxes can you put your little penny into? People want to know that their money is going to their local community and once they know that they will willingly give.”

Since childhood Shammi has sought out members of his own Sikh community and other faiths and backgrounds to build multi-cultural platforms.

He said: “The more you try to communicate with people the easier it becomes. You do what you can, then encourage other people to share and action their ideas. For any organisation to progress it needs to encourage fresh ideas. We don’t need to reinvent the wheel, but we can all learn from each other.”

Shammi’s father was in the Army, and the family came to the UK in 1965 when he was just 11. No one could have imagined then how special Shammi’s gift to the community would become and that he would later be awarded an MBE.

“I will always be here for ellenor as it is dear to my heart and hospice care is something I have believed in all my life. Being involved with ellenor has bought me a lot of joy and satisfaction, and it is good to know it will always be here.

“One of my biggest achievements as trustee has been to spread the word about what ellenor does and make sure it is widely known about in the community. Most people do want to be cared for in their own homes, and that is 90 per cent of what ellenor does.”

Shammi encourages people to be unafraid of perceived cultural barriers and to always ask questions. He has organised diversity meetings and set up care committees at the Gurdwara and still encourages people to volunteer for ellenor.

He said: “Organisations like ellenor would be nothing without volunteers, and I am going to offer my services as long as I am able. I would like to thank all the staff and volunteers for their dedication and hard work. They make ellenor what it is today, and I want them to know how appreciated they are.

I am also grateful to the Sikh community, Guru Nanak Walkers & Guru Nanak Darbar Gurdwara who have always stood alongside ellenor. Their support - through volunteering, fundraising and welcoming others - shows what can be achieved when people come together in the spirit of seva, or selfless service.”

As a community development officer for Kent Social Services, he encouraged minority groups to socialise. He set up numerous projects involving about 20 nationalities, including people from Afro Caribbean, Chinese and Muslim backgrounds. In his own time, he would also help asylum seekers from countries like Romania.

He said: “I’m not a Samaritan or a marriage guidance counsellor but people do come to me for help or a bit of advice. It’s good to talk to others.”

It is little wonder then that ellenor’s Board of Trustees were delighted when Shammi agreed to join them six years ago. Not long after he joined the charity, it faced one of its toughest challenges. The hospice that traditionally had an open-door policy, was forced to keep the doors closed when Covid hit, with the ward cautiously welcoming patients needing end of life care, and Covid restrictions made it difficult for Gravesend’s Sikh community to embrace Guru Ka Langer, or community kitchen, but Shammi worked with his fellow Gurdwara Sikh temple-Committee on a genius plan to feed those working hard through Covid, battling trauma and exhaustion. They decided to cook and deliver hot meals for ellenor’s medical staff, later also popping in with samosas for other staff members, boosting morale and ensuring people had something warm and nutritious to eat.

Keeping healthy is even more important to Shammi following his operation in May, as he has no immune or digestive system. He injects insulin four times a day and will be on antibiotics for the foreseeable future.

He said: “Years ago when I was going to donate a kidney they found a cyst in my pancreas. Since then, it had grown to19cm and caused lesions. The operation was life changing for me, but I am remaining positive and taking each day as it comes, not letting it get me down.”

Shammi and his wife Pinki care for their eldest daughter Anita, who suffers from learning difficulties. Her challenging behaviours often mean the couple do not get a lot of sleep.

He said: “It’s all part of life and you must deal with it. When you look outside your window you can see people who are worse off than us, so we are grateful for what we have.