Mystery £100k hospice gift

Published on 13/07/2010 13:48

The Evening News-backed campaign to rebuild St Columba's Hospice has received a massive boost today after a mystery benefactor donated £100,000.

The generous gift, from a funder who does not want to be named, comes in addition to more than 116,000 already raised for the hospice by the Buy a Brick campaign. It brings the dream of building a hospice fit for the 21st century at St Columba's site in Granton a step closer.

Fundraisers today thanked those who have already donated and urged supporters to keep digging deep to help the charity move even closer to raising the 7 million it needs for the complete overhaul of patient facilities.

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Campaign fundraising manager Martin Lawlor said: "This 100,000 brings us a big step closer towards reaching the 7m we need to raise.

"The generosity of this funder has been incredible and shows how much people believe in what we are trying to achieve by rebuilding St Columba's Hospice.

"We feel truly honoured and are very grateful to have received their support."

The donation comes on top of the 116,227 already raised in donations to the Evening News-backed Buy a Brick campaign.

Our appeal asks readers to donate whatever they can to buy a "virtual brick" at the campaign website, www.bluedove.org.uk.

Bricks can be dedicated to the memory of someone special or even be used to mark a special event.

The 26m rebuild will see wards completely rebuilt, social and therapy areas overhauled and a new teaching centre created.

Mr Lawlor said: "We still have a lot more to raise, and we know it's not going to be easy in these financially challenging times, but we are really lucky to have the Evening News and the people of Edinburgh behind us.

"Every donation – whether it is 10 or 1000 – will help us build a modern, first-class hospice and will allow us to continue providing the best possible care to our patients and their families."

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