Huge congratulations to LOROS chaplaincy volunteer Sulakhan Singh Dard, 82, who has received a British Empire Medal in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List.
Sulakhan was honoured for his services to healthcare in the Sikh community in Leicester as well as his work with heart research charity BHF.
He has been a volunteer at LOROS for more than 15 years, supporting spiritual needs of patients at end of life, particularly those from the Sikh community. He’s also raised thousands of pounds for the Hospice.
Sulakhan said: “I say prayers, hold their hands, talk to families and sit with them. As a volunteer chaplain, patients talk to me and I keep it all in my heart.
“We’ve all got to go one day and we don’t know when so every breath is precious.”
Sulakhan also volunteers as a Sikh chaplain at Glenfield Hospital, at the Police and in the Leicester community.
“I feel very blessed to be put forward for a British Empire Medal", he added.
“It came as a shock when I received the letter and I’m very thankful to those who nominated me, but I’ve always felt honoured by serving my community. That is its own reward.
“LOROS is such a peaceful place to spend your last days.”
Stephen Burnham, Spiritual Care Chaplain at LOROS said: "We are delighted that our Sikh Chaplain, Sulakhan Singh Dard, is receiving this wonderful award. It is well deserved for his many years of service to the Sikh community and the wider community in Leicester. We are especially pleased that it reflects appreciation of his ministry in Leicester's hospitals, and his care for people suffering life-limiting illness here at LOROS."
