Building for the future
(Herald Express 24/11/2005)
THE DIG DEEP Campaign for the Hospice of St Francis has now raised just under £110,000 in only six weeks.

STRUCTURE: Hospice staff visit the site of the new hospice at Shootersway, Berkhamsted. Picture shows what will be the new day hospital.

The HeraldExpress-backed campaign to help the hospice's capital appeal raise £2.5 million to complete the construction of its new premises has got off to a flying start, but the total is still a long way off.

Last week 32 staff at the hospice took the opportunity to visit the new site on Shootersway in Berkhamsted and enjoy a guided tour from Danny Bonner, the site manager from Jarvis Contracting Ltd and project manager Gordon Yearwood.
Louise Cecil, the hospice's capital campaign's co-ordinator took part in the tour and said it was an emotional event.
She said: "It really was quite moving, but absolutely fabulous. It made all the recent months of hard work worthwhile. It gave us all a feel for how the new hospice is going to be.

"It really is special. All the foundations are down and some of the floors and walls are going up too. You can actually foresee the new hospice coming to fruition. It made us all realise how important it is that people dig deep to help us complete this project."

The hospice staff were also out and about last week in Hemel Hempstead trying to encourage the people to Dig Deep.
A stall was set up in Marlowes Shopping Centre on Saturday to show people models of the new purpose-built building and members of the hospice talked to passers-by about what they do.
Liz Richards of the hospice said: "We were amazed by the interest and support we got during the day from the people of Hemel Hempstead and would like to say a big thank you to everyone who "dug deep" on the day."
A similar stall will be in Berkhamsted market on the High Street this Saturday November 23 giving people the chance to donate to the appeal.

The hospice's voice

Liz Richards, communications coordinator for the Hospice of St Francis.

Putting the fund-raising rush for the Hospice of St Francis behind her, communications coordinator Liz Richards has sped off this week for the sunny climes of La Manga in Spain.

She is off to the final of a national golf competition having won through to the closing stages of the annual Times Women's Corporate Golf Challenge.

Promoting the profile of the hospice is a part-time post for her.
She says: "My day to day life is taken up with promoting the hospice, in particular the appeal to raise the £2.5 million, firstly through Abena Bailey and now Pete Bennett and keeping the information flowing for the Dig Deep Campaign in the Gazette.
"I support the fundrais-ing team and clinical team and spend as much time in the hospice as possible meeting patients and relatives.

"I have played golf on and off since 1989. It is my relaxation. I play for fun and have made lots of good friends at Stocks Golf Club.
"In September six of us did the Hydro Active Women's Challenge 5K in Birmingham raising more than £3,000 for the hospice.
"My mum died from cancer and I wish I had known more about hospice care.

"She would really have benefited from the day hospice and home care and a chance to meet people in the same position as herself, and from the friends she would have made.
"My goal is to spread the word about hospice care, what it is, how it is there for everyone and the challenges the Hospice of St Francis faces to raise the money to provide this care - free to anyone who needs it."