Charity

Hospice volunteers and staff celebrate £2,400 donation from Gloucestershire housebuilder

- 27 Nov 18

Volunteers and staff at a Gloucestershire hospice for people with life-limiting conditions are celebrating a donation of more than £2,000 from a county housebuilder.

Colleagues from Bovis Homes presented a cheque for £2,400 to Cheltenham-based Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice, which will be used to improve the lives of families being cared for by the charity.

The housebuilder team were given a tour of the grounds at Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court by Alysia Cameron-Price, community fundraising manager, who highlighted how the funds would contribute to the lives of those with conditions such as cancer, heart failure and lung disease.

Alysia said the contribution could help provide more than 130 hours of care, supporting Gloucestershire families when they need it.

“This is a wonderful donation and we’d like to thank all of those at Bovis Homes who have helped raise this amount,” she said. “The funds raised by the team could pay for over 130 hours of expert and compassionate care, helping us be there for local families when it matters.

“It will make a huge difference to people needing our palliative and bereavement and support. We rely on funds like this to keep our services going.”

Mike Beacon, from Cheltenham, has volunteered at the hospice for 15 years and conducts tours and helps with maintenance work. He met fellow volunteer, and now firm friend, John Markwick, when they started supporting the hospice at the same time.

John, from Winchcombe, said: “The environment here and the volunteers are truly inspiring. I love visiting every week and supporting the hospice as best I can.

“I’ve made a truly great friend in Mike and these donations help volunteers like us and our Sue Ryder nurses, doctors and support team provide support and care so people can live the best lives they possibly can.”

Bovis Homes’ funds will go towards general maintenance and services at Leckhampton Court including lighting, mattresses and washing.

Sinks in every room have been upgraded and a new weekly drop-in clinic which includes medical therapy, physio and activities, such as an arts and crafts, now takes place on a Tuesday.

Stephanie Spry, regional marketing manager at Bovis Homes, said the emotional tour revealed how important the housebuilder’s fundraising activities were.

Bovis Homes colleagues held bake sales and dress-down days to raise the amount for Sue Ryder, the housebuilder’s chosen ‘charity of the year’.

Sue Ryder volunteers Mike and John speak to Bovis Homes about the housebuilder's donation
“Walking around Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice and meeting the volunteers and patients at is a breath-taking experience and we’re so delighted we have been able to contribute towards this awe-inspiring place,” she said.

“We heard some inspirational stories from such selfless people who are doing everything they can to improve lives, as well as from patients themselves who are creating life experiences.”

The care Sue Ryder delivers at Leckhampton Court Hospice costs the charity £10,000 a day.

There are more than 220 volunteers at the hospice, helping people aged 18 and over to get the best quality of life they can.

There are 16 inpatient beds at Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice, alongside a day hospice, family support team and Hospice at Home team, which travels across the county to visit patients who require its services.