Society members cast their votes for local hospices 24 / 05 / 2010

TWO North Staffordshire-based hospices have received a financial boost, thanks to the voting power of Leek United members....

For the fifth year running, the Society has made a 10p donation to charity for every vote cast and each completed member questionnaire at its Annual General Meeting on the 21 April 2010.

Almost 7,800 members participated in the 2010 AGM vote, either by attending the meeting in person, voting online or by post, and the resulting total of £1,309.70 has now been divided equally between the Donna Louise Children's Hospice Trust* and the Douglas Macmillan Hospice**, both based in Stoke-on-Trent. Leek United's Chief Executive, Kevin Wilson, presented cheques for £654.85 at the two hospices on Monday, 10 May.

The Donna Louise Children's Hospice Trust relies on voluntary donations to raise its annual running costs of £2 million, which is vital to enable the charity to provide specialist children's palliative care nurses, family support workers and counsellors to care for children and families who need its services.

In January 2009, the hospice was forced to close its doors two days a week, due to a fall in donations during the recession.

Melanie Mills, Head of Fundraising & PR at the Donna Louise Children's Hospice, said: "We are grateful to Leek United and its members for this generous donation. We are committed to raising sufficient funds to enable us to open our doors to children and families seven days a week, 365 days a year - but we can't do it without the caring support of the people of Staffordshire and South Cheshire."

The 'Dougie Mac' has benefited from the Society's AGM fund-raising for the last five years, receiving more than £5,000 in total.

Zoe Hollingsworth, the Dougie Mac's Senior Fundraising Development Manager, said: "We do thank all those members of the Leek United Building Society who made this donation possible through their votes at the recent AGM. The money raised will go towards ensuring that the care we currently give to around 1,700 patients who suffer from cancer and other life-limiting illness can be continued."

Mr Wilson added: "Leek United is delighted to maintain its long standing support for both of these wonderful organisations, which provide an invaluable service within the local community."

                   
Pictured:  Kevin Wilson (Leek United's                       Pictured:  Kevin Wilson (Leek United's
               Chief Executive) and Brian Hayes                              Chief Executive) and Sylvia 
               (Volunteer at Douglas Macmillan)                              Pearl (Fundraising Manager
                                                                                             at Donna Louise Hospice)