Firms give more than £12,000 to kick-start Rowans Hospice appeal

The hospice, in Waterlooville, has announced a three-phase project to transform the building and the services it provides for the next 25 years. The aim is for the first phase to be completed by 2020.

Al's Bar, Thomas Sanderson, Stride Limited and Solent Business Services are official corporate sponsors of the £7.5m fundraising appeal, which launched on Saturday.

A total of £6,000 has been donated by Al's Bar in Portchester. The bar's darts team secretary, Sarah Butcher, said: '˜Al's Bar chose to support the appeal because a lot of people here know others who have had to use our local hospice's services.

'˜After 25 years it is in need of an update and we wanted to give a genuine charity the chance to help more people.'

Thomas Sanderson, a blinds and shutters specialist based in Waterlooville, has donated £3,000 and the firm is also holding fundraising activities to match this figure.

It has supported Rowans over the years through other donations, volunteer work and by providing new blinds and shutters for the Rowans Hospice Living Well Centre, which opened in 2016.

Business development director Andrew Briggs said: '˜Rowans Hospice is a charity that has affected many people's lives in our business and throughout our community.

'˜We wanted to be part of the appeal because, after being involved in helping to furnish the Living Well Centre, we can see the stark difference between that and the hospice, and its need for refurbishment.

'˜There's always a real sense of energy and engagement from our staff when we choose to support Rowans '“ and we make sure we have great fun doing it, whether it's through a cake sale, dress-down day, a quiz or nights out.'

Stride Limited, an independent property and commercial insurance broker based in Denmead, has donated £2,500 to the Silver Jubilee Appeal.

Staff are delighted to be supporting the Rowans and managing director Richard Lovegrove said: '˜The Rowans Hospice is a highly-respected community organisation dedicated to caring for individuals and families in their time of greatest need.

'˜Stride is delighted to support the appeal so the charity can build on the firm foundations of its first 25 years and provide care and deliver new services to future generations.'

Gosport firm Solent Business Service's decision to support the appeal comes from a desire to help the community. 

Professional services director Philip Adams said: '˜As a company at the heart of the community in Hampshire, we are proud to be playing our part to support the Rowans Hospice, which does so much for our community.'

Gemma Carden, head of corporate engagement at the Rowans, said: '˜We are so grateful to our first four corporate sponsors. Their generous donations have really helped to kick-start the Silver Jubilee Appeal, which is an ambitious project.'

Any companies wishing to pledge support for the appeal can e-mail [email protected].

To find out more about the appeal and how to get involved, visit silverjubilee.rowanshospice.co.uk.

To read all the latest stories about the Rowans Silver Jubilee Appeal, go to the portsmouth.co.uk home page and click on '˜Rowans Hospice'.

Don't miss an eight-page supplement all about the appeal and the transformation project in tomorrow's News and a dedicated weekly appeal page that begins on Friday.