People across Swindon, Marlborough and north-east Wiltshire have three days to make their donations go twice as far, thanks to a special matched giving appeal from Prospect Hospice.
An anonymous local donor has pledged to match every donation made to the hospice, up to a total of £100,000, during the three-day event.
The offer runs from 10am on Wednesday, 26 August until 10pm on Friday, 28 August, meaning every £1 donated during the appeal could become £2 for local hospice care.
The match also applies to purchases made at any of Prospect Hospice’s 18 charity shops during the event, giving shoppers another way to support the charity while picking up a bargain.
Prospect Hospice provides specialist care, comfort and support for local people living with life-limiting conditions and their families.
While the charity has an Inpatient Unit at its hospice in Wroughton, around 87 per cent of its specialist care is delivered in patients’ homes and within the wider community.
Its nurses and healthcare professionals provide practical and clinical support to people who want to remain at home for as long as possible, helping them manage symptoms and stay comfortable while spending precious time with those closest to them.
For Mary Cheston and her father Richard, that support made a profound difference.
Richard had spent months in hospital receiving treatment for bowel cancer before returning home to spend his final weeks with his family. Mary had been caring for him herself and reached a point where she was unsure what to do next.
“When I was caring for him at home, I got to the point where I thought ‘I don’t know what I’m doing anymore,’” she said.
“When the Prospect Hospice nurses came to the house, they changed a terrible situation into something that was beautiful, which you wouldn’t think you’d say. I remember opening the door to them and feeling this huge sense of relief.”
The hospice was also able to arrange overnight nursing support, something Mary had not realised was available.
“They were like angels coming at all times of the day,” she said.
“After being his carer, I could finally be his daughter again.”
Mary said the nurses also helped her through Richard’s final moments.
“Then, when the time came, I was holding my dad’s hand and I was holding the nurse’s hand too. They gave me the time back to be his daughter and to say goodbye.”
Carolyn Bell, Director of Patient Services at Prospect Hospice, said being able to receive care at home could make an enormous difference to patients and their families.
“We know that many people would prefer to be cared for, and ultimately die, in the comfort of their own home if that is possible,” she said.
“Being surrounded by familiar home comforts and with the people you love close by, can make an enormous difference during the most difficult of times.”
She thanked the anonymous donor for giving the local community the opportunity to make an even greater contribution.
“We’re incredibly grateful to this generous donor for creating an opportunity for our community to have twice the impact,” she said.
“Every donation, and every purchase made in our shops during the event, will help us continue providing compassionate specialist end of life and palliative care for local people and families when they need us most.”
The matched funding means relatively small donations can make a significant difference.
A £18 donation could become £36, which Prospect Hospice says could help its teams make four journeys to provide care and support in patients’ homes.
A £27 gift could become £54, helping a specialist nurse visit two patients at home to provide expert care, advice and reassurance.
Meanwhile, a £142 donation could become £284, potentially helping provide two weeks of practical Prospect@Home support for someone living with a life-limiting condition.
The matched giving appeal opens at 10am on Wednesday, 26 August and closes at 10pm on Friday, 28 August, or when the £100,000 matching pledge has been reached.
