A Worcester man has scooped almost £3,000 on the Worcestershire Hospices roll-over lottery.
Mr John Weston joined the Hospices Lottery as a member in 1999 soon after it was first set up to raise funds for local hospice care.
It was not until his wife Jean was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 2008 that Mr Weston and his family themselves benefited from hospice care through the city’s St Richard’s Hospice.
Mr Weston – who is still deciding how to spend his win of £2,900 but is sure his family will have some good ideas – has praised St Richard’s for their ‘absolutely brilliant’ care.
“My wife was diagnosed in 2008 with motor neurone disease and it was an illness we knew nothing about.
“Jean was cared for in the In-patient Unit a couple of times and came back home and then also in the final weeks of her life until she died aged 67 in 2010. As well as the wonderful care, the personal touch was fantastic, for example how they would do her hair for her and have lots of laughs and chat.”
He added, “I also really appreciate the way they treated the whole family, not just the patient.”
Mr Weston also benefited from support the St Richard’s Hospice carers group gave him where all carers can come together to share their own experiences at regular meetings.
The Worcestershire Hospices Lottery raises funds for St Richard’s Hospice, Acorns Children’s Hospice Trust and Primrose Hospice whilst at the same time providing an opportunity to win a cash prize of up to £1000 each week, or a roll-over prize which can reach £3000. To find out more visit https://www.strichards.org.uk/raise-funds/join-our-hospices-lottery/ or telephone 01905 760909/10 email .
St Richard’s Hospice provides free specialist palliative and end of life care for patients living with life-limiting illnesses and supports their loved ones. Each year the hospice team supports more than 3,000 patients, family members and bereaved people in Worcestershire.
The hospice strives to provide the best medical, practical, emotional and social support they can to help people live life to the fullest, as independently as they can, for as long as they can. They care for people with a range of illnesses including heart failure, Parkinson’s, and motor neurone disease as well as cancer.
St Richard’s is an independent charity and is grateful for all donations to help it continue its work.