Hospice shopping spree reward

Rochdale Exchange Centre Manager, Lorenzo O’Reilly presents Springy the Hospice Frog with a cheque for £2,000

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Springhill Hospice were the lucky winners of the Rochdale Exchange Community Rewards campaign. The local hospice collected the most tokens during the campaign and were awarded with a prize fund of £2,000.

Kath Meredith, Alison McGuigan, Lilly Winterbottom and Springy the Hospice Frog visited Rochdale Exchange shopping centre on Friday 17 August to spend their money in a supermarket sweep style shop throughout the centre. The hospice added a fridge, mircrowave, hoover and toaster from Beales amongst 30 other items to their shopping list to help improve the wards at the hospice. The hospice also purchased plenty of pampering treats and home décor items from Boots, B&M and Home Bargains to be used as raffle and tombola prizes for events later on this year.

Kath Meredith, Fundraising Administrator commented: "Gobsmacked is the only way to describe my reaction when I was told we had won! There were so many worthy causes on the list of those who were eligible so for us to win, wow!

"The Hospice will benefit from this gift in so many ways and it is also a wonderful affirmation of our place in the hearts of the community of Rochdale"

Fundraising Lead, Alison McGuigan, commented: "Our lists were really helpful, you'd be surprised how difficult it is spending such a huge amount of money wisely. We wanted to be able to purchase much needed items for the ward, day hospice and shops alike and also pick up a few prizes for future events.

"There is such a great selection of shops at The Rochdale Exchange and in all of those we visited we were met with huge smiles and great service and when members of the public asked what we were doing, they too were overjoyed for the Hospice"

Kath Meredith added: "We'd just like to send out a huge thank you to The Rochdale Exchange, all the shops in the centre and of course, the people of Rochdale who voted for us, we are overwhelmed by this gesture, it will help patients, staff, carers and their families".

Centre Manager, Lorenzo O’Reilly commented: “This is such a great way for us to end our Community Rewards campaign, not only were we able to award Springhill Hospice with their prize, we were also able to see exactly how they spent it and how it will benefit everyone involved in the Hospice.

"Following the success of this year's Community Rewards programme, we hope to be able to run similar programmes in the future.”