A Colchester business raised vital funds for a local hospice which supports people facing incurable illness and bereavement. 

St Helena Hospice relies on charitable donations for the majority of its income and received a cheque of £600 from the homecare provider Right at Home Colchester and District. 

According to the corporate fundraiser at St Helena, Ruth Jennings, the money will make a “huge difference” to the hospice. 

She said: “Without the help of caring and compassionate corporates such as Right at Home, we would not be able to deliver the valuable care our patients and families need at such a difficult time in their lives.  

“Only 27 per cent of our income comes from the NHS, which means that 73 per cent of the income needed to run St Helena’s services is raised through the local community. 

“The funding will go towards helping local people in North East Essex facing incurable illness and bereavement, supporting them in their homes, over the phone via our SinglePoint 24/7 phone line, and at the hospice.” 

Right at Home Colchester and District cares for older and disabled adults in their own homes, and raised the funds through a quiz and raffle night at the Queen’s Head pub in West Bergholt in November. 

The company is aiming to more than double its fundraising efforts at a second event next year. 

Peter Flannery, owner and managing director, said: “When we realised how much the hospice relies on community fundraising, we were determined to think of a fun way we could help raise money by getting our clients, friends and family involved.

"We received 40 prizes from local businesses for our raffle, and 64 people attended the event.”