The amazing people who helped Hartlepool's Alice Hospice raise almost £90,000 from festive fundraisers

Despite the coronavirus restrictions in place throughout December, supporters came up with all kinds of inventive ways to raise money for Alice House Hospice.

Staff say the fantastic amount will make a big difference to patients and comes after the hospice suffered an estimated £1.5million loss in 2020.

Events ranged from the big, such as Hartlepool businessman Ray Liddell’s giant inflatable grinch, to the small.

Janice Forbes, community fundraiser at the hospice, said: “We had an amazing response from our local community at Christmas and the amount raised from everyone’s kind efforts is phenomenal; this really shows how generous and creative people have been, despite all of the restrictions we continue to face in these difficult times.

"This will make a real difference to the lives of local people and we would like to say a massive thank you to everyone who supported us.”

Related story: Family and friends of Hartlepool woman Mary Musgrave raise £50,000 for hospice

The Liddell family’s 35ft Grinch outside their home on Park Avenue raised £32,969 in donations and sponsorship from numerous town businesses after making headlines locally and nationally.

Ray said: “It has been an honour and a privilege to raise such a fantastic amount for Alice House Hospice in memory of my dad Frank.

"Due to the success we will be continuing the Grow Your Hart Fund.”

West Hartlepool Rugby Club raised £9,665 when 16 members took part in a socially distanced sponsored run dressed as Santa, elves and reindeer.

Matthew Tyers from the club said: “A few of us have seen first-hand the support given to loved family members over the years and wanted to give something back.”

Meanwhile, the hospice’s winter edition of its Hello, My Name Is Alice magazine helped generate around £35,000 from readers after promoting a £2,000 Christmas raffle and invited people to donate.

Hartlepool’s Tesco Extra hosted Alice House’s annual Trees of Remembrance stall raising £6,600, while Hartlepool Brass Band collected £1,601 by playing carols around the town.

Staff at Specsavers in Middleton Grange held various activities, including a Christmas jumper day, to raise £502.

And Victoria House Funeral Services sponsored the hospice’s Light up a Life campaign which replaced the usual church services with a special video message recorded by Father Richard Masshedar of Saint Paul’s Church.

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