On Thursday 22 May, 60 of our lottery top-prize winners from across two and a half decades were invited to the hospice to celebrate the lottery’s 25th birthday.
Our dedicated lottery team greeted the guests and offered them hot teas and coffees, alongside delicious scones baked by the catering team at Searle House.
Hospiscare Interim Chief Executive Wayne Gale, along with Chief Nurse, Ruth Wills, and Head of Philanthropy, Louise Beeken, sat down with the guests to thank them for their contribution to our charity and to share the impact that their regular donation through the Hospiscare Lottery has on our services.
In its first seven years, the lottery raised £1 million for Hospiscare’s specialist services.
Paula Lawford (centre) enjoys afternoon tea with fellow lottery winners and Chief Nurse, Ruth Wills (right) in the garden at Searle House
Lottery winner and Exeter Friends of Hospiscare founding member, Paula Lawford, won the top prize and generously donated half of her winnings back to Hospiscare with Gift Aid. Paula was a fundraising volunteer at Hospiscare when the lottery was first discussed and recalls, “It took a full-day trustee meeting to discuss how to save money and how to make money and that all led to the birth of the lottery.”
Paula Lawford, Louise Beeken, Roma Meyers and Jane Graney
Roma Meyers has played the lottery since its inception and has been lucky enough to win the top prize twice! Her guest, Jane Graney, enjoyed finding out more about Hospiscare’s services and the impact of the lottery, so much so that she is now determined to sign up herself!
Chief Nurse Ruth, who has worked at Hospiscare for 24 years, had her first role on the hospice’s specialist ward in Exeter. Ruth spoke of the impact the lottery has on patient care, and how the hospice has changed over the years: “I’ve seen the difference that Hospiscare makes, perhaps more difference now than when we first started out.”
Hospiscare staff member and lottery player Sofy Robertson (second from left) with staff members Denise Hook, Olivia Forsey and Karen Turner
Staff member and lottery player, Sofy Robertson, has played two numbers since 2018 and concludes, “I started playing Hospiscare’s lottery before I started working for the charity. I didn’t think much about it at the time – I pay a monthly donation and I’m in with the chance of winning £1,000 every week, or two chances as I play two numbers!
“Now that I work for the hospice, playing the lottery means so much more as I see the impact that it has. Hospiscare is reliant upon the generosity of the local community and by playing the lottery, I know I’m providing a stable source of income in a very unstable financial time.”
To sign up to Hospiscare’s Lottery, click here.
