Nottinghamshire County Council Chairman Councillor John Handley has raised £12,119.33 for his chosen charity during his term in office.

Councillor Handley concludes his term this week, with the total raised since last May for Nottinghamshire Hospice also being announced.

There have been many fundraising activities and celebration events which have contributed to the money raised.

Elaine Hopkins, Community Fundraiser, at Nottinghamshire Hospice, said: “Councillor John Handley and his lady Margaret have been excellent ambassadors for Nottinghamshire Hospice from day one.

“John’s initial target was to raise £5,000 so he has far exceeded what he was hoping to achieve. John and Margaret do not miss an opportunity to promote the hospice in all that they do.”

Councillor Handley said: “Nottinghamshire Hospice does incredible things. It does a phenomenal amount of work and it is vital that they and other hospices raise funds. It is difficult because they are voluntary organisations and they have to find funding through charitable work – but money is not a bottomless pit. I have been delighted and proud of everyone who has helped me to fundraise for Nottinghamshire Hospice and raise its profile during my term in office.”

Meeting patients and volunteers has been high on the Chairman’s agenda over the last year. He has been to numerous events at the hospice’s headquarters in Woodborough Road, Nottingham, and has visited 11 hospice shops across the county.

John attended the volunteers’ annual thankyou event and hosted three volunteer thank you parties at County Hall.
Other key highlights include a civic service at Southwell Minster, two concerts at Brinsley Parish Hall, a hog roast at Beauvale Priory and an event at Welbeck Abbey to promote artisan food and drink producers.

Councillor Andy Brown’s wife Sylvia who herself has had cancer, raised £900 on a sponsored parachute skydive.

The couple worked with staff to organise a Christmas raffle at County Hall, promoting the hospice and its work in each council department. And they have been to Veolia, the county council’s waste management contractor which managed a recycling fundraising initiative. During January, Veolia donated £2 to the hospice for every tonne of recyclable plastic bottles and cans collected from kerbside recycling bins.

Margaret has also knitted and sold Christmas stockings and Easter chicks, while the couple encouraged County Hall staff to donate Easter eggs for an Easter egg hunt.

Elaine added: “I cannot thank them enough for their dedication and support that they have shown to me and the hospice during the last 12 months. The money raised will make a real difference to our patients and their families. John and Margaret have both been teachers and wanted some of the money to be spent on education, which has allowed us to train 12 new counsellors to work in our counselling and bereavement service.”

Founded in 1980, Nottinghamshire Hospice is a community-based palliative care centre providing high quality care services to adults who have terminal and life-limiting illnesses, and their families and carers. As a registered charity the hospice is regulated by the Care Quality Commission and all services are delivered and based on individual patient needs. For future fundraising events and ideas, please contact: Elaine Hopkins on elainehopkins@nottshospice.org or 0115 910 1008 ext 251.