A stunning milestone was celebrated on Friday when the 1,000th draw was made for The Hospice Lottery Partnership - an initiative which has donated £10million over the last 20 years for patients with life-limiting illnesses.
Wycombe MP Steve Baker made the draw at The South Bucks Community Hospice shop in Hazlemere, in front of cheering staff, volunteers and customers.
The South Bucks Community Hospice, which supports patients, their families and carers, is one of five local partners involved in the weekly lottery in parts of Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Middlesex and Oxfordshire.
The Hospice Lottery, with a top weekly prize of £1,000, attracts over 34,000 players, who last year alone supported an incredible £1.176 million of vital hospice care.
Mr Baker, a patron of The South Bucks Community Hospice, congratulated The Hospice Lottery Partnership and added: “Thank you for the steadfast and crucial support for the five partners and the patients and families who so rely on the help of these wonderful hospices.”
Jo Woolf, Chief Executive Officer of The South Bucks Community Hospice based at Butterfly House in High Wycombe, was also present at the celebrations. She said: “This lottery is so important to all the five partners and is such a huge help to our fundraising. I am so grateful to everyone who supports it, either as a regular playing member or those who buy tickets at the hospice shops. We were honoured that the 1,000th draw was held at our Hazlemere shop.”
The other partners are: Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity, Michael Sobell Hospice, Rennie Grove Hospice Care and The Hospice of St Francis.
David Griffiths, Chief Executive of The Hospice Lottery Partnership, said: “60p of every pound raised goes directly to the hospices. Without this support, many of their desperately-needed services might no longer be available to local patients, their families and friends.
“Players of The Hospice Lottery not only enjoy the chance to win significant prizes; they also know that their support directly helps those in our community affected by illnesses that have touched so many of us.”
For more information about other ways that you could support The South Bucks Community Hospice call 01494 552 761 or email info@sbhospice.org.uk
