St Michael's is 40!
Join St Michael’s as we celebrate 40 years of care
St Michael’s Hospice is gearing up for a milestone year as it celebrates 40 years of providing expert palliative and end-of-life care.
The charity welcomed its first patients in 1984, and now cares for around 2,500 people in Herefordshire and its borders each year.
This weekend, a series of fundraising events at the Hospice will kick-off celebrations. Then, in October, St Michael’s will launch one of its most ambitious fundraisers to date as it looks to the community to help raise £400,000 in just 40 hours.
“As we reach our milestone birthday, we want to say thank you to everyone who has supported St Michael’s during the course of the last four decades,” said new St Michael’s Chief Executive, Matt Fellows.
“Without the generosity of our community, we simply wouldn’t be able to provide the expert free-of-charge care to those who need it, and offer support to their loved ones. Each year, we see the growth of St Michael’s. We are currently caring for more people than at any point since opening in 1984. That is why, in this special year, we are inviting the community to be part of something special – to help us raise a massive £400,000 through our Caring for the Future campaign.”
The campaign will see the Hospice look to secure £200,000 from ‘early adopters’ who will pledge to provide match funding. These early adopters will help encourage a further £200,000 from the community when the 40-hour campaign goes live in October. Throughout this year, supporters also have the chance to purchase a specially-created limited edition St Michael’s Hospice gin. Expertly crafted by the Penrhos Distillery, ’84 is on sale now, with all proceeds to St Michael’s. It can be bought here
The idea for a Hospice in Herefordshire began in the 1970s and became a reality thanks to the dedication of pioneers Freda Pearce, and Herefordshire doctors Richard Miller and Jeff Kramer. Mr Fellows says the community has a huge amount to thank them for. “Their foresight was the catalyst for what we have today,” he said. “The world has changed a lot since 1984, but what stands out to me is what hasn’t changed, and that’s the core purpose and ethos of St Michael’s. Throughout this time, it has provided quality free-of-charge end-of-life care to anyone in our community, whenever they require it.”
The Hospice’s celebrations begin with An Immersive Night of Musicals on Saturday (23rd), followed by a Mad Hatter’s Tea Party on the Sunday. Rounding off the weekend is a 40th Anniversary Afternoon Tea on the Terrace in the afternoon.
For more information on the Hospice’s plans for its 40th birthday, click here