Covid Pandemic Impact Appeal launches in bid to recoup £650,000 Income Generation Deficit

East Lancashire Hospice has launched its most significant marketing campaign since the start of the pandemic aimed at recouping an income generation deficit of over £650,000.

It costs £3.9 million a year to run the hospice which equates to over £10,000 a day and as a charity, the hospice relies on fundraising, but the cancellation of its fundraising events as well as the temporary closure of its shops, warehouse and Café Retreat means that income is now down by nearly £650,000 in nine months.

Integral to the campaign is Anita Almond’s story which her husband Steve, has kindly allowed the hospice to share.  Anita’s story illustrates the difference the care and support the hospice are able to provide, makes to the lives of their patients as well as to their families.

Steve lost his wife, Anita to terminal cancer on 5th November 2020 and from the point of diagnosis, Anita was supported by East Lancashire Hospice. The hospice hope that by sharing Anita and Steve’s story it will encourage more donations and in turn help other families to get the support they need at the time they most need it.

Steve Almond said “I can’t begin to tell you what a difference East Lancashire Hospice made to Anita’s life during her eight years of living with ovarian cancer.  From early help and advice with the best pain management drugs, through ongoing support with complementary therapies and regular one to one meetings with her clinical nurse specialist to the amazing compassion and care provided for Anita by the nursing team at the end of her life, the hospice made a huge and real difference to the way we were able to live our life together.  The hospice helped us to make the most of every single day and it gives me great comfort, now, to know that the hospice is here to help other people in the same way.  It’s so important for me to be involved with this fundraising campaign.  It’s a small way of saying “thanks” and  a great way for me to continue Anita’s fundraising activities that she enjoyed so much - especially at a time when those funds are so desperately needed”.

The campaign takes the form of a Door Drop to 80,000 households in Blackburn with Darwen, Hyndburn and the Ribble Valley will hit people’s letter boxes this week and is supported online via the hospice website and social media channels.

Alongside this, Hospice Supporter Richard Tatlow from Tatlow Signs has gifted the hospice some complimentary advertising on their DigiVan which is being used to promote the campaign and is circulating in Blackburn throughout the month of February.

Richard said “It is a pleasure to be able to support the hospice with such a worthy campaign and to offer them valuable advertising exposure in Blackburn.  I have had first-hand experience of the care and support that they provide and understand how difficult this past year has been for them financially.  I hope that our gesture goes someway to helping them achieve their campaign target of £650,000”.

Graham Parr, Chairman of the Board of Trustees at East Lancashire Hospice said “We know that times are difficult for everyone, but we are appealing to our community for their help – however they can.  Any donation made helps to ensure all of our patients at the hospice are able to make the very most of life.  By supporting East Lancashire Hospice, they will be helping families get the support they need at the time they most need it.  All monies raised go directly towards the provision of patient care in the hospice and in the local community – for which we are incredibly grateful”.

To make a donation as part of the Covid Pandemic Impact Appeal, supporters are encouraged to visit  https://eastlancshospice.org.uk/covidimpact or call (01254) 287014.

For further information please contact Katie Elliott – Marketing & Communications Lead on:

Telephone: 01254 287015

Email: Katie.Elliott@eastlancshospice.org.uk

Notes:

Anita’s journey can be read in full at eastlancshospice.org.uk/covidimpact-anitas-story