Gift list to help furnish hospice
Mark hospice card by giving this Christmas
(Gazette 25/10/2006)
by Pete Bennett

Gift list cards suggest items that can be bought for the hospice: Right shelving and storage, wall clocks, blood pressure monitors, teddy (Children's toys and books), garden furniture, microwaves, special matresses and reclining chairs.

The Hospice of St Francis is asking people to buy a gift and help ensure its new premises can offer the best service it can.

The new building is taking shape, with patients expected to move in early next year, but now the hospice needs more help to equip its new home.

A Gift List appeal has been launched allowing people to purchase a gift of a piece of equipment for the hospice and really make a difference.

Fundraising Director at the hospice, Sarah Thompson, said she hoped people would take the opportunity to buy a gift for the hospice.
She said: "We are hoping that people might like to buy gifts for friends and family. They can buy a wall clock, or shelving or a blood pressure monitor or other things. We will send them an attractive Gift List card explaining what they have bought and what it will mean for the new hospice. It will be nice to know that some of the gifts people buy over Christmas can go somewhere really important."

The Gift List appeal has already brought in more than £30,000 for the hospice arid there is a large range of different pieces of equipment on offer.
Just £10 will buy a heatbag used to help ease patients aches and pains, £20 will buy shelving and storage equipment, £100 children's books and toys and £1000 a special reclining chair to help nurses easily move patients.
Sarah added: "What we want to say to people is we have almost finished the outside of the building but we really need help to equip the inside. We want it to be as cheerful and comfortable as possible when people come to stay with us. With this appeal people can think about exactly what they are putting in the hospice. We've been really pleased by the response so far."

To find out more about the Gift List appeal visit here

The Hospice is also on the look out for new volunteers to help when its new premises are completed.
Volunteers are required in a number of areas. For further information contact Sue Jenkins at the hospice on 01442 869550