Hospice summer appeal raises almost £20K

Treetops Hospice has thanked its supporters after almost £20,000 was raised from its Summer Appeal.

The success of the appeal means that even more local patients and their families can continue to receive support from the end-of-life charity, which is based in Risley.

Among the people it supports is 84-year-old Barbara Buxton, from Alvaston, who found herself isolated when the UK went into lockdown last year.

She was advised to shield due to having the respiratory disease COPD and quickly lost contact with the outside world.

She said: “Treetops was a lifeline for me during the pandemic. When we went into lockdown, I lost contact with everyone and ended up indoors by myself all day. I wouldn’t speak to a single person from one week to the next.”

Jenny Peake, Treetops’ head of supporter relationships, said: “We want to say a huge thank you to everyone for their kind donations and support.

“Even as we see a gradual return to normality, there are people like Barbara who still need to shield due to their conditions and your wonderful support means that we can continue to be there for them.”