IT costs £1.3m each year to provide high quality care at St Clare Hospice. Now a new project aims to raise funds by asking people to sponsor one minute of care.
Fundraisers hope that by breaking it down into affordable amounts everyone can contribute towards helping the hundreds of patients and their families who use the Hastingwood hospice each year.
Fundraising organiser Teresa Strange said: "To most people £1.3m is incomprehensible but it's the equivalent of £2.50 per minute, which is well within everyone's budget. This is a great way for people to help those who desperately need it and make their stay with us more comfortable and dignified."
Situated in Hastingwood Road, close to the M11 roundabout, the hospice centre provides in-patient care for eight people and numerous activities for day visitors. There are nurses and doctors providing medical care and a range of activities such as aromatherapy and art therapy. There is also a large garden, non-denominational sanctuary, communal lounge and children's play area.
Miss Strange added: "St Clare Hospice is a happy place where sad things happen, sometimes. We want to dispel the common misconception that a hospice is a gloomy place. The founder of the modern hospice movement, Dame Cicely Saunders said: You matter because you are you, you matter to the last moment of your life and we will do all we can to help you not only to die peacefully but to live until you die.'"
The Minute of Time campaign is being launched in the new year with the hospice encouraging individuals, schools, businesses, societies and clubs to take part. Leaflets are being delivered and the hospice has come up with a number of fundraising ideas to enable people to have fun while raising money. Donations can be dedicated to someone's memory and every contribution will be acknowledged.
Last year the hospice admitted more than 250 patients and provided 1,200 days of care. The day hospice saw more than 200 patients, with more than 1,000 attendances. It provided 350 formal counselling sessions and many more informal ones and has developed a support system for bereaved people, especially children and young people. It also loaned almost 500 items of equipment to patients in their homes and ran a 24-hour advice line for anyone wanting help or information.
Last year the community raised £900,000 towards the care provided at the hospice, with the rest coming from central government. Miss Strange added: "Next year will be the fifth anniversary of the in-patient unit and so we wanted to organise a fundraising event to mark that milestone.
"It gets increasingly hard to think of fundraising ideas and we are always looking for something different. We greatly appreciate all the generous support we receive and never take it for granted."
For more details, ring Teresa Strange on 01279 773755.
