DEDICATED fundraisers for a Basingstoke hospice have been thanked for their hard work and contribution to the running of the facility.

Volunteers who help raise the £3.8 million a year needed to run St Michael’s Hospice, in Aldermaston Road, were praised at a special event as they were named the hospice’s vice-patrons for the next year.

More than 80 volunteers were joined by their nearest and dearest, plus staff from the hospice, as they celebrated the occasion with a champagne reception.

Chief executive officer of the hospice, David Monkman, said the contributions of the volunteers are vital for the hospice, not just in money but in their roles as ambassadors for St Michael’s.

He said: “Without the support of our local community the staff here would not be able to carry out the work they do.

“We look at the support of our volunteers as being part of the family, and speaking to all of them they have been touched by the hospice in some way or another, so this is our little thank you to them.”

Most of the people who were made vice-patrons were either individuals or couples, apart from one group of women who collected a significant amount for the hospice last year.

The Friends of St Michael’s Hospice managed to raise nearly £100,000 last year through its fundraising efforts.

Founding member and former chair of the Friends, Valerie Buckley, said: “We have been supporting the hospice for 25 years now, and we will continue to do everything we can to help the staff here.

“Everyone here has been touched by the hospice in some way and they have created a family within the family here.”

Current chair Jane Lyons added: “If we don’t look after the assets we have, such as the hospice, then who will look after us in the future.”

The hospice recently launched its St Michael’s Home Care service, which offers domiciliary care to people in Basingstoke, meaning events such as the Big Wheel, the hospice Midnight Walk and all the fundraising efforts of its vice-patrons will now go a lot further.

To find out how to get involved with fundraising with the hospice visit stmichaelshospice.org.uk.