TRADE AND INVESTMENT MINISTER PLEDGES SUPPORT FOR ST GILES IN-PATIENT UNIT APPEAL
| Published: 19th March 2008 21:14 |
Digby, Lord Jones of Birmingham, Minister of State for Trade and Investment, has become a Patron of the appeal and will be demonstrating his support by being guest speaker at a special Black Tie Gala Dinner on Friday 9th May, which will raise money towards building the state-of-the-art In-Patient Unit at Whittington.
Local guests are invited to attend the event at Moor Hall Hotel in Sutton Coldfield, at which a splendid four-course dinner will be served.
Lord Jones says: "Communities matter - today more than ever. A hospice is hugely important to a local community and deserves generous support.
"Business needs successful communities and can help so much in reaching out to all points of our society. I can't think of a better way of giving meaning to social inclusion than business helping St Giles Hospice."
Capital Appeal Director, Laura Pennycuick, adds: "We're thrilled to have the support of Lord Jones, who is well-known throughout the business world and for supporting good causes such as ours, particularly in his local area.
"The £4million Capital Appeal to build a new In-Patient Unit was launched in September and will enable St Giles to significantly extend its specialist care for local people living with cancer and other serious illnesses.
"The new, 27-bed In-Patient Unit will replace our current 18-bed facility and as well as creating larger en-suite rooms for our patients, and enhanced facilities for their relatives, including overnight accommodation, there will be more space for medical equipment."
Tickets to the Gala Dinner cost £75, with proceeds going straight to the Capital Appeal. Anyone wishing to book places should contact Laura at the St Giles Capital Appeal Office on 0121 378 6295.
As a former Director-General of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), Birmingham-born Lord Jones was the UK's ‘Voice of Business' between 2000 and 2006, meeting business leaders and politicians throughout the world and making regular appearances on TV and radio.
Lord Jones has also raised more than £400,000 for charity during his career, taking part in events including a cycle ride from John O'Groats to Land's End.
St Giles Hospice is a registered charity offering high-quality medical and nursing care for people with cancer and other serious illnesses, as well as providing support for their families and carers.
Patients come from across the hospice's catchment area, which ranges from Ashby de la Zouch and Atherstone in the east, to Cannock and Walsall in the west - and from Burton and Uttoxeter in the north, to Sutton Coldfield and Coleshill in the south.
Care is offered at the hospice's facilities in Sutton Coldfield and Whittington between Lichfield and Tamworth, or in patients' own homes across the region.
St Giles spends over £5million every year providing its specialist services. With just a third of this funded by the Government, the registered charity relies heavily on donations and fundraising.
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