The Hospice of St Francis has enjoyed its first Christmas and New Year in its new premises.Work is still going on to put the finishing touches to the £6.4 million build at Spring Garden Lane off Shootersway in Berkhamsted but administration and fundraising staff have already moved in with medical staff set to follow this month.
Dozens of residents have enjoyed tours of the new hospice which when up and running will almost double the capabilities of the old hospice on Shrublands Road.
Roz Taylor, Medical Director at the hospice, had a message to all the Gazette readers who have helped make the new hospice a reality.
She said: "During 2006, the community has shown huge determination, passion and generosity in supporting the new Hospice of St Francis.
"Our new building will allow superb and unique care that is simply not available anywhere else, care that we would all want for our family and friends.
"This year, our hope is to develop all our facilities and open our extra beds.
"Thank you to all the Gazette readers who have helped our vision become a reality in 2006 - we couldn't have done this without you".
Communications Co-ordinator at the hospice, Liz Richards, said readers of The Gazette and Herald Express had Dug Deep to the tune of £375,000.
She said: "2006 was a monumental year for the Hospice of St Francis.
"The local community rallied round and raised £1.4m of the £2.5m needed to complete the £6.4m building of the new Hospice, as well as contributing to the £2.3m running costs to provide our service. They jumped out of planes, walked over hot coals, played Jazz, sang, walked to school, played golf, the list is endless."
Among the major fundraisers this year were the Go to Jail event at The Mount in Bovingdon which raised £20,000, the Last Brick Ball which raised £37,000, a sponsored Clay Pigeon Shoot which brought in £14,000 the Big Brick Buy and Gift List appeal which brought in an impressive £45,000 and £110,000 respectively.
In addition to this 25 bricks that had been fired at the brick works that stood on the land the new hospice now occupies were sold off by Estate Agents Aitchisons for £1000 each, raising £25,000 for the appeal.
In November The 'Memories' Gala Evening at the prestigious Grove resort raised an incredible £100,000.
Liz added that they were very grateful to all the local companies who have supported the hospice with fundraising and donations. Among them, BP provided furniture, Dells stored the furniture for 18 months, H G Matthews donated one brick for every five purchased, and a number of local churches and religious groups donated to the chapel.
Liz said: "Our staff and volunteers have also gone that extra mile to raise funds and provide time for the Hospice and to everyone who has contributed to this journey from putting a few pence into a collecting tin to Turners Terrors who set off for Gambia for the Hospice on December 28, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
"2007 promises to be no less hectic with the need to raise funds to open four extra beds at the new Hospice and to expand our day care services. We will need many more volunteers as well, so if you have a few hours to spare, please contact Sue Jenkins on 01442 869550."
Any unwanted Christmas gifts will be welcome at the hospice shops in Hemel Hempstead, Berkhamsted, Abbots Langley, Bovingdon and Chesham.
More tours around the new building are planned for this month. If anyone is interested contact Wendy Campbell or Sally Phipps on 01442 869550.
A tour of the inside of the new hospice reveals how the inside is starting to take shape. Pictures include rooms for patients, the staff office and cafe area
 
 
Is this the road to Gambia?
READY FOR THE OFF: Terry and Chris Turner prepare to set off on their challenge in a 1988 VW Golf. Pictured from left to right are Penny Bird from the Hospice, Charli Turner, Terry Turner, Chris Turner, Katy Turner, Julie Turner and Rob Turner.
Adventurous brothers Chris and Terry Turner have set out on a 3,000 mile challenge in aid of the Hospice of St Francis.
The daring duo, along with faithful mascot Martin the Zebra, set out from Dacorum on December 28 to drive all the way to Banjul in The Gambia - in an old banger that cost less than £100.
Often described as the ultimate banger challenge the 21-day journey will take the Turners through wintry Europe and eventually through the North African desert where temperatures could reach around 40C.
Chris Turner, 58, of Tinkers Lane, said: "I've been frantically getting stuff together, and I haven't slept much over the last few days my head's been so full of listsl
"It's hard working out how much we'll need. At the moment I reckon seven pairs of pants for 28 days!
"I'm really looking forward to it, we really can't wait. The furidraising has been brilliant and so far we are up to about £1,680 and there's more to come in so we will have raised more than £2,000."
The event is part of the Plymouth-Banjul challenge, a budget version of the Paris-Dakar Rally, and the Turners haven taken to the road using a 1988 VW Golf.
Chris said: "Repairing punctures in the desert won't be fun I'm sure but you can patch up a lot and we've also got three spare wheels.
"We've got enough water to sink a ship and all the petrol we need, but there's bound to be something new that's thrown at us!"
Despite the worry of having to navigate a mine field in West Africa and some hairy border crossings, Chris said driving through wintry fog in France was what he was most worried about.
He added: "It's fantastic to be helping the hospice.
"I visited the new building and I'm really looking forward to seeing it when I get back when hopefully it will be up in action."
You can keep up to date with the Turners progress or sponsor them by visiting www.turnersterrors.co.uk
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