Lytham Rotary tees up £5,000 boost for Trinity Hospice

The money is what was expected to be the proceeds of the club’s annual charity golf day at Royal Lytham and St Annes, cancelled this year because of the pandemic.

It will be shared between Trinity and its associated hospice for children, Brian House, both based in Bispham and serving the whole of the Fylde coast and which launched a fund-raising appeal after predicting a £1m shortfall in funds this year because of cancelled events and their shops closed during the pandemic lockdown.

Rotary officials say they are keen to do all they can to support the hospices together with North West Air Ambulance, which have been the organisation’s major charities, having shared more than £75,000.

As Trinity prepares to open its charity shops next week, including those at St Annes, Lytham, Kirkham and a new one at Ansdell, its appeal has already topped £120,000.

But former Fylde and England rugby skipper Sir Bill Beaumont, Trinity’s president, has stressed that the appeal is still very much ongoing and that every pound raised and every item donated is gratefully received.

Sir Bill said: ““Staff at Trinity Hospice and Brian House Children’s Hospice have moved mountains in recent weeks, stepping up to the challenge of caring for Covid-19 patients and helping the NHS in many ways.

“But the uncertainty going forward, and the estimated £1m lost income mean that the hospice needs the help of our local communities more than ever.

Trinity officials have been delighted with the response, with donated items galore at their distribution hub in Blackpool as soon as it reopen last week as well as the ongoing cash contributions and John Ardern, joint chairman of Lytham Rotary’s community service committee with Peter Haworth, said: “It’s a wonderful cause to which we are delighted to contribute.

“We will continue to lend our support to Sir Bill who has been a good friend to our club over many years, unveiling a plaque at Rotary House, opening our stroke awareness day, and speaking to our members at lunchtime.”