Why your support can make all the difference (From Warrington Guardian)

Why your support can make all the difference

STAFF at St Luke's Hospice are urging members of the public to do their bit for the Winsford centre - by setting up support groups.

The Queensway site has to raise £4,000 per day in order to continue providing care and support to patients and their families.

Now fundraising manager Wendy Gibson is asking Northwich residents to help the hospice by arranging charity events in its honour.

Wendy said: "We have had support groups helping the hospice for 20 years but generations have moved on and we're finding a lot of our active fundraisers are ready to pass the baton to new blood.

"Historically, support groups have been made up of people who are from a particular area or village but they can be made up of employees or friends and can host any event from coffee mornings to rally car racing.

"We currently have 13 groups regularly fundraising for us and we need this support to continue and expand."

And Wendy says interested parties should not be put off by the prospect of paperwork and committee meetings.

She said: "All support groups are invited to the annual trustees meeting to find out what the hospice is about, but attendance is optional.

"The only task of the groups is to arrange fundraising events, as many as they would like, and bank the money in aid of the hospice. Last year our support teams raised £117,000 and we hope this will rise this year.

"Basically, if anyone has a little bit of time to spare for fundraising I would love to hear from them. We do not have any groups in the Kingsmead area and the Northwich team is also looking for new faces."

If you would like to find out more, visit www.stlukes-hospice.co.uk, or call Wendy between 9am and 5pm on 01606 551246.