The hospice’s annual running costs have latterly topped more than £3.5 million, covering all services, particularly specialist medical and nursing care. The support from commissioning organisations, including the NHS, have been meeting less than half of the yearly bill.
Patricia Boynton, the hospice’s trusts and grant manager, offered a “massive thank you” to all the freemen for the donation.
She added: “When I heard the fantastic news I couldn’t wait to tell everyone at the hospice. We continue to rely on charitable funding and this gift means so much. We have always believed what we offer should be accessible to all.”
Eric also explained the freemen’s decision was particularly poignant, following the “wonderful care” received by Alan Ribchester at the hospice in the final days before his death at the end of January.
Alan, a leading chartered accountant in the region, had been the instigator and driving force behind the establishment of the Freemen’s Charitable Trust.
