It’s amazing how quickly time passes, especially when you’re busy

2018 was a fantastic year at St Ann’s, with so much going on that I can hardly believe we’re starting a new year already.

We’re continually seeking ways to develop and improve our services for local patients and their families, whether provided at one of our three hospice sites, or out in our local communities via our many outreach services. We’re also always looking at ways to reach out to people who may not traditionally access hospice care.

We constantly look for ways to innovate and develop new fundraising activities, and also to broaden our Trading Company portfolio, whether via our high street shops, our lottery, our online shopping outlets, or other income generating opportunities.

In 2018 we made huge leaps forward in lots of these areas, and we’re heading into 2019 confident that we can continue that growth to ensure even more local people can access hospice care.  Our ultimate aim is to be there for anyone who needs our support, whether that’s from the point of diagnosis of a life-limiting illness, through treatment, or beyond.

But, despite all of this work we do, we’re only the organisation we are today because our local communities support our work so tirelessly. We need to fundraise £20,000 a day to keep our services running, and can only do that thanks to you.

I’d therefore like to say Happy New Year to all of our supporters on behalf of everyone at the hospice, and to send you all a sincere thanks for your kind support over the last year.

Whether you’re a volunteer who has selflessly given your valuable time to help us, an individual who has made a donation or taken part in one of our events, a health professional who has helped us to care for our patients, or an employee of a business who has supported our fundraising activities, we can’t thank you all enough.

We simply couldn’t carry on providing the specialist care we give to thousands of patients and their loved ones without your kind support.  The community in Greater Manchester supports us untiringly, and I want to say thanks a million.  It really does make a huge difference and we’re extremely grateful.