Digby digs deep to help hospice's £4m appeal

Mar 20 2008

AN APPEAL to raise millions to build a new in-patient unit at a hospice has been given a huge boost by a Government minister.

Digby, Lord Jones of Birmingham, has pledged his support for the Lichfield-based St Giles Hospice's £4 million appeal.

The Minister of State for Trade and Investment has become a patron for the appeal and will be the guest speaker at a black tie gala dinner on May 9, at Moor Hall Hotel, in Sutton Coldfield, which will raise money towards building the unit at the Whittington site.

Lord Jones said: "Communities matter - today more than ever. A hospice is hugely important to a local community and deserves generous support.

"Business needs successful communities and can help so much in reaching out to all points of our society.

"I can't think of a better way of giving meaning to social inclusion than business helping St Giles Hospice."

Capital appeal director, Laura Pennycuick, added: "We're thrilled to have the support of Lord Jones, who is well-known throughout the business world and for supporting good causes such as ours, particularly in his local area.

"The £4million Capital Appeal to build a new in-patient unit was launched in September and will enable St Giles to significantly extend its specialist care for local people living with cancer and other serious illnesses.

"The new, 27-bed in-patient unit will replace our current 18-bed facility and as well as creating larger en-suite rooms for our patients, and enhanced facilities for their relatives, including overnight accommodation, there will be more space for medical equipment."

* Tickets to the Gala Dinner cost £75, with proceeds going straight to the Capital Appeal. Anyone wishing to book places should contact Ms Pennyquick at the St Giles Capital Appeal Office on 0121 378 6295.