Pendleside Hospice was built by the community for the community – those were the words of its founder and former Chairman of trustees Muriel Jobling who passed away aged 93 three years ago.
And in a heartfelt plea chief executive Helen McVey says Pendleside is as reliant on the community as much now – if not more – than when the first foundation stone was laid just over 30 years ago.
Since the country entered its third lockdown because of the Covid-19 pandemic it’s the Burnley and Pendle community who she is calling on to further back the ‘Keep Our Hospice Open’ campaign.
She said: “I am calling on the people of Burnley and Pendle to help in any way they can especially by donating money or raising funds for the hospice.
“Pendleside is being severely hit from all directions. We are helping to take the strain off our hospitals by caring for more inpatients than we normally would and we are caring for more hospice at home patients. To do this we have had to increase our clinical nursing staff.
“Plus more people are calling on our counselling service because of the mental stress to individuals the pandemic is causing.
“At the same time that our resources are being stretched more and more every day, we are losing our main fundraising revenue streams. It costs around £4.5million to run Pendleside of which more than £3.5million has to be raised by fundraising and donations and during the pandemic that is falling way short.
“Apart from the smaller yet still important events that we have had to cancel there are big question marks over some of our main events for 2021. Together they would normally raise more than quarter of a million pounds.
“In addition, our 10 charity shops and furniture store have again had to close. Together these generate an annual income in excess of £600,000.”
Helen added: “Since its early days Pendleside has increased the palliative care services it offers to people with life-limiting illnesses and their families and carers enormously. And that is why I am calling on the community it serves to help us during these difficult times.”
Any company or individual who could make a donation or organise a collection or virtual event to raise money for Pendleside can contact the fundraising team on 01282 440120 or access the link below:
https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/pendlesidecovid19appeal