Former Preston Mayor pays for Christmas Day at St Catherine’s

The former Mayor and Mayoress of Preston will use the proceeds from a busy programme of fundraising during their term in office to pay for the care delivered by St Catherine’s Hospice on Christmas Day.

Coun Nick Pomfret and his wife Barbara raised an amazing £16,333 through a range of activities and events during their Mayoral year from 2014-15.

Now they will use the money to pay for the care St Catherine’s delivers on the hospice in-patient unit and in the community on December 25, as part of the charity’s Pay for a Day scheme.

Through the initiative, individuals, businesses and groups are invited to donate or fundraise to cover the cost of either all the hospice services for £11,500, the in-patient unit – which costs £6,000 – or the day therapy unit and community Clinical Nurse Specialist team, which costs £3,300.

In return, they choose a date which is special to them and hospice services on that day are dedicated to them. Often people pick a loved one’s birthday or anniversary as their chosen day.
Coun Pomfret decided that Christmas Day would be an extra special occasion to dedicate their proceeds towards.

He said: “We know that St Catherine’s provides exceptional care every single day of the year and we witnessed the difference it makes personally during several visits to the hospice over the course of last year.

“On Christmas day we know staff will go the extra mile to help patients and their loved ones to have a peaceful and comfortable Christmas, and we are delighted to be able to use the funds we have raised to help deliver these vital services on such an important day.”

Funds were raised in a variety of ways during the course of their term in office, including the Mayor’s Ball in March and Carols in the Chamber last Christmas; a quiz night at Acregate Labour Club; a Motown night at Deepdale Club; and by taking part in the charity’s sponsored Morecambe Bay Walk.

Coun Pomfret added: “Being Mayor was a wonderful experience which we both thoroughly enjoyed, in particular all the fantastic fundraising events organised in support of the hospice.

“Knowing that we used our position to help raised funds for such an important local cause makes our memories all the better, and we’re delighted to be taking part in Pay for a Day at this special time of year.”

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