Management Team - Costa Brava Hospice

PRESIDENT

Melissa Levey

Melissa has lived on the Costa Brava for over 50 years and is the driving force behind the development of the CBH and has been involved in the setting up of the Anglican Church in the Costa Brava. Melissa has been a volunteer for the hospice in the UK and trained by Vinyana.

VICE PRESIDENT

Brigitta van der Steene

Brigit is a trained nurse very experienced in end of life care in the home. From Holland, Brigit has lived and worked in Catalonia for many years. Brigit has also trained with Vinyana.

SECRETARY

Phil Fleming

Phil has been living and working in the Costa Brava since the early 2000’s. Since 2022 she has been a qualified Humanist Celebrant and offers a personal alternative to religious based ceremonies. She has been interested in helping with the creation of the Costa Brava Hospice since 2019 and most particularly with the location and acquisition of a permanent physical home base for the people for whom ‘Hospice in the Home’ is no longer an option. To that end she is the CFO of the Costa Brava Hospice, responsible for the fundraising of the project and helping to recruit English Speaking volunteers in the Baix Emporda.

TREASURER

David Hurley

David was an early member of the U3A Costa Brava and served as treasurer and Vice-President he is now auditor. He is a qualified chartered accountant. David is the current treasurer for the Anglican Church on the Costa Brava. He has a knowledge of charitable trusts, banking systems and tax law both in the UK and Catalonia.

Contributors and mentors

Tew Bunnag

Tew is one of the founders of Vinyana and has many years experience of accompanying the dying including working in a hospice in his native Bangkok. He provides training and support to both health professionals and volunteers who support people at the end of life as well as their families. He gives workshops all over Spain as well as the UK and Greece. He is an adviser to various groups working in this field.

Mar López Sala

Mar is a doctor and dentist with a practice in Girona. She has been trained in Vinyana, at the San Camilo Center for palliative care and is currently studying the Master in palliative care at the ICO-UVic and is a volunteer accompanying patients with advanced and terminal chronic disease. It is part of the team of trainers for the training of volunteers who want to work in the Hospice field.

Andreu Garriga

Andreu is a lawyer based in Girona with an interest in the hospice. Andreu has advised and consulted on the setting up the Costa Brava Hospice Association and all that legally entails. He also assists legally the Anglican Church of the Costa Brava, based in Corçà (Girona). His office in Girona deals mainly with conveyancing on properties for foreign clients and professional cyclists.

Mercedes Guilera Roche

Mercedes is based in Barcelona and is a volunteer who is Vinyana trained. Mercedes is actively raising awareness of the hospice in Barcelona.

Lujan Comas Arroyo

Lujan is a medical doctor and a anaesthetist specialising in cardiac surgery. Based in Barcelona. She is also a well known author. Lujan worked as an assistant doctor at Vall d’Hebron Hospital for 32 years. In addition to other specialties such as Homeopathy, Neural Therapy, Sintergética and Holistic Medicine where the important thing is not a diagnosis but the person who has that diagnosis, with what they feel, think, desire, and helps to restore the balance of thought, emotion and body physical.

Gabi Pinea

Gabi is from Argentina and lives and works in Catalonia. She is also trained by Vinyana and is experienced in accompanying the dying through Hospice in the home.