President Bill's plea as Trinity cash appeal reaches £120,000

The hospice is facing a £1m shortfall in income because of the cancellation of its fund raising events and prolonged closure of its charity shops, and launched its appeal to help close the gap.

Trinity, which serves the whole of the Fylde coast, is not part of the NHS and must raise £6m a year in voluntary donations.

Sir Bill, president of both Trinity Hospice and Brian House Children’s Hospice, said: “As we emerge from lockdown please remember the hospices and the continued challenges they face.

“With mass participation events cancelled and fund raising shops closed for weeks during this unprecedented period, it is a worrying time.

“Staff at Trinity Hospice and Brian House Children’s Hospice have moved mountains in recent weeks, stepping up to the challenge of caring for Covid-19 patients and helping the NHS in many ways. But the uncertainty going forward, and the estimated £1m lost income mean that the hospice needs the help of our local communities more than ever.

“I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who has donated to the Trinity emergency appeal or contributed in some other way – you are part of an incredible team here on the Fylde Coast.

“Every pound raised, every item donated to Trinity’s shops will help close that funding gap as we, hopefully, head back to normality.”

Former Fylde and England rugby captain Sir Bill was appointed president of Trinity and Brian House a year ago as successor to the late soccer legend Jimmy Armfield Among the events called off because of the casualty of the Covid-19 crisis is Trinity’s annual Colour Run, usually held on the beach at St Annes in July, but people are being offered the chance to ‘make their own rainbow’ by buying a paint pack and holding their own small scale event. Details at www.trinityhospice.co.uk