Hospice Heroes all revved up!

Sally Wareing and Grayham Goodenough, from Wrea Green, were part of a group who were set the corporate challenge by the hospice fund-raising team.

Now, on hearing of The Gazette’s Hospice Heroes campaign to raise £200,000 to help fund a huge renovation of the hospice, the pair are encouraging people to get involved, insisting raising cash is simple.

Car Carnival on the Green saw 160 classic, vintage and super cars assembled on Wrea Green village green, with organisers asking exhibitors for a £10 contribution to enter and visitors for donations, raising a total of £2,886.55.

Organiser Mrs Wareing said: “My family have always been advocates of Trinity Hospice so when they asked us to raise money a friend suggested a car carnival.

“You’ve got to try to come up with something different haven’t you?”

DETAILS OF HOW YOU CAN DONATE OR GET INVOLVED ARE LISTED ON OUR DEDICATED HOSPICE HEROES PAGE.

Mrs Wareing works for Wareing Buildings which has a fleet of vintage vehicles as well contacts with TVR clubs and Wrea Green Parish Council.

She added: “It wasn’t difficult to do once people knew it was for the hospice and it was a couple of hours to meet up with like-minded people.

“It’s just a case of getting like-minded volunteers together, you don’t have to make it a big event for it to be successful, and thinking about what facilities or connections you have available to you and how easily you can get people.

“And as soon as people know it’s for something so worthwhile they’re willing to give their time.”

Wareing Buildings joined the Hospice’s corporate challenge, where 20 companies across the Fylde coast were each given £50 and challenged to use to set up an event in aid of the unit. The car carnival used the £50 on admin and advertising. Mrs Wareing said she hopes the car carnival will inspire other unique events for The Gazette’s campaign.

Hospice Heroes is aiming to raise £200,000, which will be put together with a grant of £280,000 from the Department of Health to create single rooms at Trinity Hospice on Low Moor Road, Bispham, replace some of the hospice’s original 28-year-old features and create more private spaces. At Brian House, the rooms will be made brighter and safer and the kitchen will be made more open for the older children to learn to cook.

She added: “It’s inspiring other people to do something quite simple for something so worthwhile - it’s fantastic.

Appeal hits 10 per cent mark

Just three weeks into the Hospice Heroes campaign and your generous donations have seen us already sail past the 10 per cent mark.

After a busy week of fund-raising, including a bumper collection at Blackpool Cricket Club’s fireworks display, the total today stands at £20,366.

That’s more than a tenth of the £200,000 The Gazette endeavours to raise to help revamp facilities at the care unit.

Trinity and Brian House supporter Dan Whiston was visiting the hospice on Friday.

He said: “To break the £20,000 barrier is just fantastic, I’m so pleased, and it shows what the community can achieve when it works together.

“A huge thank you to everyone who has contributed so far.”

DETAILS OF HOW YOU CAN DONATE OR GET INVOLVED ARE LISTED ON OUR DEDICATED HOSPICE HEROES PAGE.