Lottery pioneers at St Catherine’s Hospice celebrate 20 wonderful years!

St Catherine’s Hospice Lottery is celebrating its 20th anniversary – marking two decades since it became the first hospice in the country to set up the pioneering fundraising scheme.
To mark its milestone birthday – and to say thank you to all its supporters over the past 20 years – the draw on Friday February 15 will include a bonus prize of £1,000.

This will be on offer alongside the weekly £2,000 first prize, second prize of £250 and third prize of £150 – which rolls over each week if not won, up to a grand total of £5,100.
There is also a fourth prize of £100 and fifth prize of £50, along with 30 further £10 prizes to be won each week – all up for grabs for a weekly stake of just £1 per ticket.
As the lottery celebrates its 20th anniversary, St Catherine’s Hospice is urging people to send them a birthday present by signing up to become a member.
Sheila Kennard, Head of Lottery who has worked in the department for 17 years, said: “We were the first hospice lottery in the country to be set up 20 years ago in February.
“Since then many hospices across the UK have followed our example, and now run successful lotteries of their own which are a major source of funding for the care and support they provide.
“Here at St Catherine’s we raise around £0.5m profit each year through the lottery and associated events such as the Christmas raffle and car raffle. This makes it a major source of income which provides a great boost towards the £4.9m it costs to run the hospice each year. Knowing that we can rely on the subscriptions paid by members each month really helps us to budget and plan for the future – something else which makes the lottery so important.
“We are so grateful to those people who have paid their £1 to play each week for the past 20 years. We’d love it if people wanted to buy us a 20th birthday present by taking out a lottery membership, or if those who already play with one number might consider buying a second for an extra £1 each week during our anniversary year.
“More than 70 per cent of the money members pay in subscriptions goes towards the specialised palliative and end of life care we provide to people with life-limiting conditions across Chorley, Longridge, Preston and South Ribble. Playing the St Catherine’s Hospice Lottery really is a way to win, and a way to care.”
Paying £5 to play the lottery for a month could buy a memory DVD for a patient, providing a personal keepsake for their family. A six month subscription of £26 could cover the cost of a counselling session for a bereaved family member. Playing for a year at the cost of £52 could fund a community visit from one of our Clinical Nurse Specialists – allowing a patient to receive care in their own home.
St Catherine’s Hospice day therapy patient Kath Smith from Penwortham is a long-standing member of the lottery, having played each week for the past 15 years.

The 59-year-old, who has lung cancer and attends the hospice each week for specialised nursing and medical care alongside complementary therapies, said: “I’ve been a regular supporter of the lottery over the years, but now especially – when I’m not able to take part in the more physical fundraising events and activities that the hospice organises – I want to make sure I’m still giving something and doing my bit.
“I’d encourage anyone to sign up to become a member of the St Catherine’s Lottery – they do such wonderful work and you never know when you or someone you love might need their help and support. And you could win a prize along the way!”
St Catherine’s Hospice Lottery Fascinating Facts
• The St Catherine’s Hospice Lottery raises around £0.5m profit each year.
• Since it was founded in 1993, the St Catherine’s Hospice Lottery has raised an incredible £8.2m.
• The St Catherine’s Hospice Lottery currently has 15,000 members.
• To mark its anniversary year, the lottery would like to increase its number of members by 20 per cent to 18,000.
• If we achieved this target we would raise an extra £156,000 per year.
• If all of our existing members who currently play with one number also paid for a second number each week, we would raise an extra £735,000 from the lottery this year.
To join the St Catherine’s Hospice Lottery click here email lottery@stcatherines.co.uk or call 01772 695298.

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