Vertu Drives Forward Support For St Oswald's Hospice
Award-winning automotive retailer Vertu is once again backing St Oswald’s Hospice by providing the headline prize for the annual Big Car Raffle, helping to drive vital fundraising at a time when support for the charity is more important than ever.
Vertu has provided the hospice with a 26-plate Hyundai i10 in Vibrant Blue, with one lucky supporter of the hospice having the opportunity to win a new car whilst also helping to fund essential care for patients from across the region.
Tickets are now on sale with online entries running through to 23 November, before the winning name is drawn on 1 December.
Vertu’s partnership with St Oswald’s Hospice stretches back more than a decade, with the Gateshead-based business having first donated a car for the raffle back in 2015.
Since then, Vertu and St Oswald’s – which this year celebrates its 40th anniversary - have jointly raised over £450,000, including more than 900 hours of specialist nursing supported by last year’s raffle alone.
St Oswald’s Hospice provides care for adults, young people and children with life-limiting conditions through a wide range of services, from inpatient and day care to vital bereavement support for families.
It currently costs £12 million per year to deliver the range of care services at St Oswald’s Hospice, with around half of this needing to be raised through charitable giving - meaning continued community support is essential to keep the hospice open and available for families across the North East.
Lisa Gowland, Fundraising Communications and Marketing Officer for St Oswald’s Hospice, said: “We’re incredibly grateful to Vertu for its ongoing support for the hospice through the Big Car Raffle.
“This is one of our most important fundraising events every year, and plays a vital role in helping us raise the funds we rely on to continue delivering our care. Quite simply, without support like this, we wouldn’t be able to help as many people across the region as we do.
“With a number of events taking place across the summer as we celebrate our 40th birthday, we are encouraging as many people as possible to get involved in the Big Car Raffle, not only because they could possibly win a new car, but because they can make a real difference to local families.
Robert Forrester, Chief Executive of Vertu, said: “Over the past decade, our partnership with St Oswald’s Hospice has raised hundreds of thousands of pounds to support the amazing work that the charity carries out on a daily basis.
“The generosity of people across the North East makes a huge difference, and funding raised through the Big Car Raffle has had a huge impact on patients and their families through the years.
“We are proud to once again support the hospice as it celebrates its 40th anniversary and would encourage as many people as possible to take part as every ticket sold helps St Oswald’s continue its remarkable work.”
Entry to the St Oswald’s Big Car Raffle is open here: https://www.stoswaldsuk.org/get-involved/win-with-us/big-car-raffle/