Sisters support hospice appeal in run up to Mother's Day

Veronica Plant’s daughters Mel and Sarah have been fundraising for the hospice and have praised the team who cared for their mum, who died aged 68.

She died just a week after being diagnosed with gall bladder cancer in 2014.

The hospice in Moggerhanger cares for more than 1,000 people living with life-limiting conditions, through a range of services, so that people can have choice and control over how and where they receive their care.

Mel Plant said: “We didn’t realise that the care mum received was completely free. When we were told that the cost of mum’s stay would be covered by the fundraising efforts of the St John’s team, we were amazed. We thought the hospice was subsidised by the NHS.

“Since our mum passed away we have been raising money to make sure that other people received the same great care that we all did.”

All the services provided by the hospice are completely free to patients and their loved ones, but it costs the hospice £7,500 every day to keep its doors open. Only part of these costs are covered by statutory funds while more than 50% is covered by voluntary donations. The hospice is running a Mother’s Day appeal to ensure it has enough funds to continue to be here when people need it most. If you would like to support the appeal with a donation you can make a donation online at www.sueryder.org/stjohns/mother, send a cheque to Sue Ryder St John’s Hospice, St John’s Road, Moggerhanger, Bedford, MK44 3RJ, or call the fundraising team on 01767 642412.