Be a Star appeal raises over £158,000 for hospice at Christmas

St Elizabeth Hospice is thanking the local community for helping its Christmas campaign, Be a Star, raise a record-breaking £158,306 for the independent Suffolk charity.
From the Be a Star Matched Giving Week and the hospice’s popular Light up a Life remembrance event through to the annual Christmas Day Dip, Christmas Jumper Day, Santa Dash run in Gorleston and individual fundraisers taking on challenges in aid of the hospice, supporters across East & Mid Suffolk, Great Yarmouth and Waveney, joined with St Elizabeth Hospice to raise this fantastic amount.
Donations are still coming in, but 2024’s Be a Star appeal has already surpassed the £157,000 raised by 2023’s Be a Star appeal, with the 2024 Matched Giving Week alone raising over £46,662 thanks to support of local businesses and the local community between 2 and 8 December.
Pauline Donkin, Head of Fundraising at St Elizabeth Hospice, said: “Thank you so much to everybody who supported our Be a Star over Christmas. You really are all superstars, and your generosity has made such a difference to the hospice and to all the patients under our care.
“From making a purchase at one of our shops, supporting our Christmas fundraising events, such as the Christmas Day Dip, or if you were a business who took part in our Matched Giving Week, every penny you raised was so important to our services.
“On behalf of the hospice, we wish you all a happy and peaceful New Year.”
On average every Christmas, the hospice provides vital care to more than 1,300 people living with progressive and life-limiting illnesses and their families across East & Mid Suffolk, Great Yarmouth and Waveney, for many of whom it will be their last Christmas spent together.
The funds raised by the Be a Star appeal will support the hospice’s vital work in providing free services to improve life for people living with a progressive or life limiting illness throughout East Suffolk, Great Yarmouth and Waveney.
Lisa Parrish, Director of Care at St Elizabeth Hospice, said: “Thank you to everyone who donated so generously to our Be a Star appeal.
“Your incredible support enabled our dedicated team to deliver vital care throughout the community and in our Inpatient Units in Ipswich and Beccles Hospital.
“This festive period was particularly busy. Between Christmas Eve and Boxing Day, we supported over 15 patients in our Ipswich Inpatient Unit alone. Meanwhile, our community teams across the region continued their fantastic work to support families in creating precious memories and enjoying meaningful time together during Christmas.”
For more information about the Be a Star appeal visit www.stelizabethhospice.org.uk/be-a-star/be-a-star-appeal.