It is even easier than ever to support your local Southern Area Hospice, with the popular weekly lottery now available online.
It takes just minutes to sign up and the difference £1 a week can make is truly amazing.
The hospice cares for people right across the Southern Trust area who are suffering from life-limiting conditions such as cancer and motor neurone disease, and the lottery alone generates more than £2,500 a week to help provide this support.
The lottery, which has been running since 1999, has only gone online in the past few months but its convenience has already proven popular.
“We have had a big increase in people joining since we launched it online,” said Bernie Byrne, Fundraising Officer for the hospice.
“Even throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, when the majority of other hospice fundraising activities were cancelled or postponed, the lottery was able to continue safely each week, continuing to provide a vital form of income when the hospice needed it most. It was a constant for us.”
In fact, the hospice describes the lottery as a “win-win” situation for everybody.
By joining the hospice lottery, supporters donate just £1 per week, or £4.34 per month, to be in with the chance of winning guaranteed weekly prizes of £300, £200 and £100.
There is also an additional rollover prize, starting at £200 per week and going up to a maximum of £5,000.
Everyone registering is allocated an automatically generated five-digit number and the draw is made every Friday morning, with the winners announced on the hospice website and Facebook page.
Coming up to Christmas, a hospice lottery membership for family and friends always makes a popular gift.
“Last year, they really took off, ” said Bernie. “And this year, we are really excited that we can sell them online, which is a great boost for us.”
Hospice nurse Jenny McLoughlin said: “Our hospice lottery is a fun and easy way to support the work we do for as little as £1 per week.
“It is fantastic news that hospice supporters can now visit our website and register to donate and play in just a matter of minutes.
“The lottery really is a win-win because not only are people supporting the work myself and my colleagues do, when they play it also gives them the chance of winning weekly prizes.”
The lottery remains one of Southern Area Hospice’s key fundraising activities, raising over £150,000 per year.
However, with ever-increasing costs the need for new lottery supporters grows each year.
Figures for the coming year estimate that the hospice needs to raise £3 million, which equates to £58,000 per week or £8,200 per day, to enable it to keep providing its vital services.
To join the hospice lottery, visit www.southernareahospiceservices.org/lottery-support-us.
Alternatively, anyone who prefers to register by phone can still do so by phoning fundraising on 028 3026 7711.
The lottery is open to over-16s only.
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