Three Huddersfield area hospices have received significant support from the Freemasons’ Grand Charity.
Representatives from the Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice at Bradley, Overgate at Elland and Kirkwood Hospice met together at Dalton-based Kirkwood to receive grants totalling over £7,500.
Alan Elstone and John Gledhill from the Provincial Grand Lodge of Yorkshire, West Riding, handed over cheques on behalf of their national charity which are awarded annually.
Kirkwood received £3,343, Overgate £2,257 and Forget Me Not £2,014 with the differing amounts reflecting the number of beds and community services each hospice is able to provide.
The three hospices need to raise a combined total of almost £13m a year to maintain the services and support in the local communities which they serve.
Kirkwood faces annual costs in excess of £5m, Forget Me Not’s figure is approaching £4m and Overgate must budget for £3.5m.
All hospices rely extensively on fun-raising by community organisations and individuals.
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Wasim Hussain, trusts and legacies fund-raiser at Kirkwood, said: “On behalf of our three local hospices I would like to thank the Freemasons for their wonderful continuing funding as we strive to provide the kind of facilities and support that we believe our communities deserve.”
Mr Elstone said: “The 15 hospices in our region have recently received more than £47,000 from our Grand Charity and all monies for donations are raised by Freemasons and their families and aim to assist hospices in their vital role in helping those affected by terminal or life-threatening illnesses.”
West Riding Masonic Charities last month donated £10,000 to provide an upgraded computer entertainment package at Forget Me Not and Mr Gledhill said support for local charitable organisations and communities continues through the Provincial Grand Master’s Fund.
So far this year almost £7,000 has been distributed locally, including £500 to Meltham and Meltham Mills Junior Brass Band and a grant to the Daylight Support Group in Huddersfield which provides help for women cancer sufferers.
