The latest instalment of Prospect Hospice’s £195,000 campaign to deliver services at Savernake Hospital in Marlborough was delivered today – by local schoolchildren.
Back in September, the people of Marlborough were challenged to raise £75,000 towards the cost of the Prospect outpatient centre at Savernake Hospital, which will deliver day services, physiotherapy and occupational therapy for patients in the area who need end-of-life care.
Not only did local people meet their fundraising target; they exceeded it. By the end of January the campaign total had reached £95,000 – giving the charity a good start towards meeting its running costs for the first year.
And today (Friday) a cheque for £10,000 was handed over to the charity by children from St John’s School and Preshute primary school on behalf of the Friends of the Savernake Hospital.
The children represented the efforts of every school in the Marlborough area to raise cash by holding a dress-down day earlier in the year, on which every pupil was urged to dress in green – Prospect’s brand colour – and donate a pound for the privilege.
“We are hugely grateful to the Friends of Savernake Hospital for the support that they have given our appeal to open our Outpatient Centre,” said Prospect Hospice’s income generation director Richard Hammond.
“Their offer to match-fund the community’s fundraising to the tune of the first £20,000 of donations gave it an immediate boost, and I am sure encouraged local people to get behind our appeal.
“I would like to express the thanks of everyone at Prospect Hospice for the support of the Friends of Savernake Hospital to the appeal, and look forward to working closely with them when our Outpatient Centre opens at Savernake Hospital this summer.”
Work will start on the new outpatient centre – which will have six rooms and an open-air courtyard – within the next few weeks.
Meanwhile, there’s still time for well-wishers to donate to the cause, and the charity is also calling for an army of volunteers to help run the facility – filling roles ranging from support workers, and bereavement counsellors, to minibus drivers, complementary therapists and front-of house volunteers.
For more information, log on to www.prospect-hospice.net/Supporter/Savernake-Appeal
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