Tennis club scores ace for hospice

An annual tennis tournament attracting players from across Ribble and the Flyde has served St Catherine’s Hospice another ace – after raising another £634 for St Catherine’s Hospice this year.

The latest donation from the Preston Veterans Tennis Tournament takes the total raised for thecharity over the past 29 years to more than £6,000.

The doubles tournament, sponsored by Baileys Financial Services in Whitestake and Barton Grange Garden Centre, is held between June and November each year, when club members over 45 from across the Ribble and Fylde leagues compete for the coveted trophy.

It started as an open event in 1985 – the same year St Catherine’s Hospice opened its doors – and proceeded to become both an open and handicap event in 1994.

From 1992 the tournament was organised as a charity event, in support of the Lostock Hall hospice.

Organiser Anne Carter said: “The aim of the competition is to give players from the Ribble/Fylde clubs the opportunity to play some social competitive tennis, meet new people and keep fit whilst helping St Catherine’s.

“I have been delighted with the number of entries this year and with the spirit in which the matches have been played. The feedback has been very encouraging for the continued success of the competition. Again, my thanks go to everyone who has taken part and especially to Michael Bailey and Guy Topping for their generous support.”

Tanita Mistry, fundraiser at St Catherine’s Hospice, accepted the donation on the charity’s behalf.

She said: “We’re very grateful for yet another wonderful donation from the Preston Veterans Tennis Tournament.

“It’s great to see people having so much fun raising funds for St Catherine’s Hospice. The donation will help fund our specialised care for those facing life-shortening illness in our local community.”

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