Walsall residents are being urged to embrace the Joy of Six – by raising just £6 in six months for Walsall Hospice.
The charity is launching its Joy of Six campaign on Wednesday, February 17, when it will give away to shoppers hundreds of collection boxes in the shape of bricks as part of its massive drive to raise £1.5 million.
Building work at the palliative care centre is now well under way at the former Goscote Hospital, in Goscote Lane, and due to open later this year.
The money raised from the “bricks” – which supporters will be asked to fill with spare change over the next six months – will directly help open, equip, and run the hospice, which is part of the palliative care centre, and due to open early in 2011.
If every person in the borough donated just 25p a week for six months – which equates to less than a packet of crisps – it would enable the independent charity to reach its target of £1.5 million for equipment and initial running costs.
Cheryl Bradburne, head of fundraising at Walsall Hospice, said supporters can collect the boxes from The Bridge, Walsall town centre, between 10am and 11am on February or can contact the fundraising team on 01922 423515 or register at www.walsallhospice.co.uk They will be asked to return the filled boxes to the town centre on June 16 and sign a piece of art work, which will hang in the completed hospice.
“There are 250,000 people in Walsall and it would be brilliant if everyone donated at least 25p each a week until June,” said Cheryl.
“The maths is simple: £6 x 250,000 is £1.5 million.
“The dream of having a hospice in Walsall is becoming a reality and we have been bowled over with the amount of support so far. However, we still need to raise a lot of money. Just think of the joy that £6 could bring.”
Ends
Reporters, photographers, multi-media journalists and camera crews are invited to attend the launch of The Joy Of Six on The Bridge, Walsall, at 10am, Wednesday, February 17. For further information, telephone Cheryl Bradburne on 01922 423515.
The box has been sponsored by Pertemps,Mid Counties Co-operative, South Staffs Water, www.Donatesomeback.com and Walsall Housing Group ( WHG).
