Isabel Hospice’s Together at Christmas campaign raised £175,000 for vital palliative care services in eastern Hertfordshire.
Over the Christmas period, the community of eastern Hertfordshire came together in a remarkable display of generosity, raising an impressive £175,000 to support Isabel Hospice’s vital palliative care services.
The Together at Christmas campaign which had an original target of raising £140,000 featured 11 festive events, including the return of the Christmas tree collection and recycling service, Christmas at the Manor, Carols in the Chapel, Lights of Love services, Rudolph Run, Bee Gees Night, Doggy Dash, Winter Wishes Raffle, Corporate Stars, Home for Christmas appeal, and Christmas Jumper Day!
The Christmas Tree collection and recycling service raised nearly £30,000 covering eastern Hertfordshire. With 80 volunteers distributing leaflets as well as collecting and disposing of over 1,500 trees.
Jordan Russell, Community Fundraiser, added, “Our remarkable volunteers were amazing yet again, distributing leaflets and collecting hundreds of trees. We are so grateful for all the work they do!”
Isabel Hospice President, Barbara Doherty MBE, and her Special Events Committee hosted Christmas at the Manor and Carols in the Chapel, both with over 150 attendees, raising much needed funds for Isabel Hospice.
Isabel Hospice’s Lights of Love services took place in Buntingford, Bishop’s Stortford, Cheshunt, and Sawbridgeworth, unfortunately the Welwyn Garden City event was cancelled due to bad weather. These heartwarming ceremonies provided a chance to remember loved ones, with over 700 touching messages in the Lights of Love Book of Dedications.
A new initiative gave local schools the chance to participate in ‘Rudolph Run’, Claire Melinte, Community Fundraising Manager, said, “schools really embraced the spirit of the festive season as they took part in our first ever Rudolph Run. The support we received was amazing with over £20,000 being raised!”
Local businesses showed their support by becoming ‘Corporate Stars’ where they displayed a unique Isabel Hospice Christmas decoration in December as well as wearing their best Christmas themed jumpers on Christmas Jumper Day all in exchange for a donation!
The Home for Christmas appeal raised an impressive £33,000 which supported the vital care the Hospice at Home service provides over the Christmas period, allowing patients to spend their final Christmas in the comfort of their own homes alongside their family.
Katy O’Sullivan, Head of Fundraising and Marketing, said: “We would like to thank our amazing community and remarkable volunteers for coming together as they always do over the festive season. We are delighted to have smashed our target of £140,000 and raised a significant amount that will go a long way towards helping the hospice care for local people and their families affected by life-limiting illnesses.”
