More than £600 has been raised for St Elizabeth Hospice by classic car club, East Coast Pirates, in memory of their former member and friend, David ‘Peterson’ Hewett.
Based in Great Yarmouth, East Coast Pirates has been running for over 15 years, and hosts regular classic and American car meets. David ‘Peterson’ Hewett was a popular figure among the group, attending the gatherings whenever he was able with his MG TF car until his death from cancer on 17th May under the care of St Elizabeth Hospice at Beccles Hospital.
In memory of David, the group held a car show on 5th September at Joyland American Family Diner, home of the East Coast Pirates, in Great Yarmouth, where David could often be found enjoying a caramel latte. The day saw a number of car enthusiasts gather to show their cars and enjoy each other’s vehicles, as well as sharing memories of David and raising £630 for St Elizabeth Hospice in the process.
Steve Skinner of East Coast Pirates said: “David had been a member of the East Coast Pirates for a number of years and everyone knew him. He was just a really lovely guy with a great character as well as being a friend to so many people.
“Unfortunately he was diagnosed with a life-limiting illness but he received such fantastic care from the hospice at Beccles Hospital. He sang the praises of their care no end and thought so much of all the staff.
Michael Cole, owner of Joyland American Family Diner and a great supporter of the Club added: “So, as a club, we promised him we would help the hospice in his memory and to raise such a brilliant amount is fantastic. We are pleased to receive such support and we are keen to continue raising funds for the hospice at future car shows.”
Since 2019, St Elizabeth Hospice has been working in partnership with East Coast Community Healthcare (ECCH) to deliver free specialist care services to people in Great Yarmouth and Waveney.
Since then more than 2,000 people have been supported by the partnership via the service’s 24-hour advice line OneCall, at Beccles Hospital, in the community through hospice clinical nurse specialists working across Waveney and Great Yarmouth or received support through the hospice’s emotional, wellbeing and bereavement support service, LivingGrief.
“On behalf of the whole hospice, I want to say a big ‘thank you’ to the East Coast Pirates and their supporters for raising such a fantastic sum for the hospice,” said Lesley Rawlinson, Community & Partnerships Fundraiser for St Elizabeth Hospice.
“The communities of Great Yarmouth and Waveney have been brilliant in supporting our partnership with ECCH and their backing helps us to continue to develop our care in order to support more people and their families, throughout the coastal communities of Great Yarmouth and Waveney, during very difficult times in their lives.
“Without the generosity of the community, from people and organisations like East Coast Pirates, we could not do what we do. If you would like to learn more about fundraising for St Elizabeth Hospice, please do get in touch.”
Further information about the partnership’s services in Great Yarmouth and Waveney can found by visiting www.stelizabethhospice.org.uk/how-we-can-help/hospice-care/great-yarmouth_and-waveney.
To contact the 24-hour specialist palliative care advice line, OneCall, call 0800 567 0111.