Prospect Hospice is calling for local people to form a support group and raise money for its new outpatient centre at Savernake Hospital in Marlborough.
With approximately four weeks until the new unit opens, a meeting for people interested in setting up a support group has been organised.
Pewsey already has a support group, which has so far raised £3,000 for the charity, while the Hook support group raised £12,000 last year.
But despite having two well-supported charity shops in the High Street, Marlborough has – until now – been without a support group of its own.
“We’re looking for people who can give perhaps one evening a month, who like planning and organising events like coffee mornings, quiz nights, bingo, raffles, and open gardens,” community fundraiser Mike Kennedy told members of Marlborough’s Chamber of Commerce at their monthly meeting this morning (Wednesday).
A meeting to form a support group will take place at Wesley Hall, Christchurch, Marlborough from 6.30pm on Wednesday, November 18. Prospect will be looking for a committee of around 12 to 15 members.
Mr Kennedy said the charity had been ‘overwhelmed’ by the generosity of Marlborough supports following an appeal to raise £75,000 to open the outpatient centre last year.
“The target was smashed, and £285,000 was raised in total,” said Mr Kennedy. “The total cost of Prospect care for Marlborough and the surrounding area is £400,000 a year, so local fundraising is still very important.”
The outpatient unit has no beds – the facility will offer therapies and treatments to patients being cared for at home who usually have to travel to Wroughton for their care.
During his presentation, Mr Kennedy also asked for more traders to put Prospect Hospice collection tins on their shop counters, and asked employers to consider Prospect Hospice when organising staff charity fundraising initiatives.
