Lions turn up the heat on patient care

Pictured (back) Robin King, Bill Hurenkamp and Reg Grisotto from Churchill Lions with Kevin’s wife Lesley and daughter Kelly Bianconi.

When you are unwell, a warm blanket is a must-have.

But for Kevin Hogan the weight of a blanket only added to the physical pain of motor neurone disease (MND).

“Dad was always cold but he couldn’t have too much weight on him because his legs would get sore. We couldn’t pack him with lot of blankets so to have one warm blanket meant he wouldn’t need lots of layers,” Kevin’s daughter, Kelly Bianconi said.

After Kevin died in June last year, his mates at the Lions Club of Churchill decided to donate money to Latrobe Regional Health’s Nicholson Rehabilitation Unit to purchase a blanket warmer. The special cabinet safely heats blankets to maintain a patient’s body temperature or promote relaxation and comfort.

Club president Robin King said the donation was the club’s way of honouring Kevin’s contribution to the community for almost 30 years.

“Kevin was a great mate of mine,” Robin said. “We were the ‘A-team’ in the barbecue van. Wherever he went, I went. The club is just like that, we all bond. Being a mechanic, Kevin was the first port of call if something needed to be fixed. If there was anything going on in the club, he was ready to help.”

“And if there was a blue on, he’d fix it with his sense of humour,” club member Reg Grisotto added.

LRH Community Engagement Officer, Lisa Twigger said the Lions Club of Churchill doesn’t have clubrooms where it can honour past members so a plaque on the blanket warmer was the next best option.

“Kevin may not be involved with the club anymore but in a small way, his generosity will be remembered and he’ll still have a role in helping people in our community for years to come.”