BROMSGROVE Ladies Circle raised £5,821 for Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice through a number of fund-raising events this year.
The kind-hearted group of 18 to 45-year-olds took part in bucket collections, quiz nights and more to raise the much-needed cash.
The Hospice, which provides vital care to those living with life-limiting illnesses, cared for Mark Haynes, the husband of the group’s 2018/19 area chair, Vicky Hadley.
Vicky said: “Mark was just 29-years-old when he was told that he had less than a year to live.
“It was heart-breaking news but I’m so thankful Birmingham St Mary’s was there for us every step of the way.”
A nurse at the hospice, ironically called Mary, encouraged Mark to create a bucket list of things he wanted to do before he died.
It included marrying Vicky, watching Aston Villa from the box and taking a trip to New York, all of which he accomplished.
Vicky added: “I used my year as area chair to really shout about the Hospice and encourage the ladies to fundraise for the wonderful cause.”
Cash raised for the hospice comes at a particularly special time, as the charity is celebrating 40 years of care across Birmingham and Sandwell.
When it first opened in 1979, it cared for up to 25 people on any given day.
Four decades later and the hospice is supporting over 400 people every day, providing care in people’s homes, in the community, at its Day Hospice facility and at the Hospice’s Inpatient Unit.
It costs £9million per year to run St Mary’s.
Charlotte Dowling, community fund-raising manager at the hospice, added: “A huge well done to the Ladies Circle for raising such an impressive amount of money for us.”
Visit www.ladiescircle.co.uk for more information.
