Peterborough charity raffle raises £2,000 for Peterborough's Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall Hospice

When Ellie Tindale and Lauren Staff, from Peterborough, heard about Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall Hospice launching a second fundraising appeal of 2020, they immediately sprang into action to support it.

They decided to run a charity raffle through Instagram and Facebook. Numerous big-hearted businesses in and around Peterborough showed their support by taking part, from beauty salons and tea rooms to hairdressers and bakers.

The pair were inspired to support Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall Hospice after experiencing its care; the hospice team cared for Lauren’s grandfather in 2010 and Ellie’s grandmother in 2002.

Ellie and Lauren drew the raffle on Instagram Live before Christmas – which saw lots of entrants winning a variety of prizes, from vouchers for hair and beauty treatments to cakes, cheesecakes and homeware.

Ellie and Lauren set their original fundraising target at £200 – and hit this figure in just 24 hours. To date, they have raised an impressive £2,275.

“We think Sue Ryder is an amazing charity and can’t imagine Peterborough without Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall Hospice,” said Lauren.

“They cared for my grandad in 2010 and provided incredible care to him and our family. My family have supported Sue Ryder in fundraising ever since.”

“My Nanny Ruby was a resident at the hospice for a few months when she received end of life care,” added Ellie.

“She passed away on 11th July 2002 and I have some lovely memories of spending those last moments with her as a young child; she was an amazing woman.

“Many of the local businesses involved with the raffle also have some form of connection with the hospice.

“We want to thank everyone at Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall Hospice for everything they’ve done. We hope our support will give the carers help to carry on caring.”

The support comes at a crucial time for Sue Ryder, the national healthcare charity which runs Thorpe Hall Hospice. In November 2020 the charity was forced to launch its second urgent fundraising campaign of the year in response to the impact the Coronavirus pandemic has had on its funding.

Maxine Harper-Woods, Community Fundraiser at Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall Hospice, said: “A huge thank you to Ellie and Lauren for their amazing support and also to all the local businesses who took part in the virtual raffle. Together, you have raised an amazing £2,275 for our hospice. We know times are tough for everybody at the moment, so we are very grateful to everyone for helping to raise funds – every bit really does help.

“Despite all the pressures our hospice faces this winter, we can’t stop caring. With the help of kind-hearted supporters like Ellie and Lauren continuing to raise vital funds for us, we will continue to do whatever it takes to give the best possible care to people throughout the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic.”

To find out more about Sue Ryder’s fundraising campaign visit www.sueryder.org/winterappeal20

You can support Ellie and Lauren through JustGiving: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/pborocharityraffle