Support continues for the East Devon Day Hospice Appeal

Donated works of art go under the hammer at the Art Extra fundraising event for the East Devon Day Hospice Appeal. (Image: Neil Bigwood)

The new state-of-the art building is being built in King Street, Honiton, and will provide support to patients and their families across East Devon.

Appeal fundraiser Sarah Smith said: “It is incredible that we have reached the £75,000 mark. This amount represents the hard work and generosity of so many local people and Hospiscare is very grateful to all those who have already helped us achieve this amount.”

She added: “We still have to raise a further £175,000 to reach the £250,000 needed to complete, equip and run our new day hospice, so anyone wishing to help bring care closer in East Devon can call me today to find out how they can get involved.”

The new East Devon Day Hospice is being built in partnership with Budleigh Salterton, Exmouth and Lympstone and Sidmouth Hospiscare charities.

The appeal, which was launched earlier in the year, has gathered tremendous support from the local community.

In excess of £7,000 was raised during a fundraising art exhibition and auction in Honiton.

Art Extra took place at the Old Pavilion, and brought together more than 20 well-known artists to exhibit their work.

The event was organised by Debbie Luck, Mary Ann Wilmot, and Gill Coates. On the Saturday there was a glittering champagne cocktail party to preview the exhibition followed by an auction of works donated by the artists. The entire proceeds of the auction benefited their chosen charity, Hospiscare.

Works up for auction included a bronze cast of the head of race horse ‘Arkle’, which was the centre piece of the auction and was donated by Jane Scott-Fox to Hospiscare, before she passed away in January this year.

The list of established artists included Tania Kovats, Neil Cox, Stephen Brown, Michael Buckland, Ray Balkwill and Gina Parr.

On the Sunday a free exhibition was held where cream teas and cakes were served up to visitors.

Debbie Luck, one of the event organisers, said the event was very well supported and added: “It went extremely well. The idea was to promote the artists as well as fundraise.”

All the donated works of art were sold and it is hoped following on from the success of this first event that it will become a bi-annual event.

Organisers have thanked everyone that supported the event and said a special thank you to the sponsors, artists and the marvellous caterers.

A supper by candlelight event hosted by the Honiton Hospiscare Support Group on June 21 raised between £1,100 and £1,200 for the East Devon Day Hospice Appeal. Mary Bolshaw, the chairman of the support group, said: “It was huge success.”

To start the evening supporters were treated to a glass of champagne and canapés. This was followed by performances by Jan Sutcliffe and members of Nostalgia Incorporated, together with maestro Trevor Bolshaw, at St Paul’s Church.

A four-course meal and wine was served to diners in a candlelit Mackarness Hall.

Mary has thanked the team of volunteers who helped with the event and also to Jan Sutcliffe and Nostalgia Incorporated.