For the very first time, 16 Hospices from the West Midlands have joined forces to create a “Love your Local Hospice” campaign aimed at raising awareness of the care hospices provide and the importance they play in the local communities.
One of the 16 Hospices taking part in the campaign is Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice in Selly Oak. Each year, hospices across the West Midlands area care for over 26,000 adult patients and support over 1,500 children and their families.
It costs around £8 million each year to run Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice which is free of charge to terminally ill patients and their families across Birmingham and Sandwell. Many hospices are reliant on voluntary donations to meet these costs and without them they simply wouldn’t exist. Not forgetting the time generously given by an army of dedicated and skilled volunteers who donate up to 800,000 hours each year to support in so many ways.
Along with various awareness events across the region, a series of TV advertisements will be shown on ITV, commencing on Valentine’s Day, Sunday 14th February. It will showcase the love, care, friendship and support each of the hospices provides to patients, young and old, and their families.
Tina Swani, Chief Executive at Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice, said: “To be involved in the ‘Love your Local Hospice’ campaign has been a fantastic opportunity – not only to work together with the other hospices, but as a platform to dispel myths of hospice care. We hope the campaign will help raise awareness that our hospice is available for all individuals and families across our community, wherever and whenever they need it.
We couldn’t offer the care and support we do without the continued support and love from the local community. Every donation really does help make a difference. ”
As part of the ‘Love your Local Hospice’ campaign, the hospice will be spreading the love to morning commuters with a sweet treat in the city centre on Monday 15th February, just in case Brummies’ missed out on a Valentine’s gift. There are many ways you can show your love to Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice this month. Sign up for a fundraising event, make a small donation, share the love on social media using #LoveYourLocalHospice, volunteer at the Hospice or visit one of the 14 charity shops in Birmingham.
For more information on how to ‘Love Your Local Hospice’ visit www.birminghamhospice.org.uk or call 0121 472 1191. A full list of hospices involved in the campaign can be found on loveyourlocalhospice.org.uk
