Felixstowe Friends is encouraging new members to join their group which supports Suffolk charity, St Elizabeth Hospice.

For 16 years, Felixstowe Friends has been supporting the hospice, helping to raise funds for the charity and increase awareness of St Elizabeth Hospice in the local community, while also volunteering at flagship hospice events, such as Christmas Day Dip and Suffolk Remembers. 

Their support has seen the group host a range of fundraising activities, such as quiz nights, tombolas, dance events, stalls and managing the hospice's donation collection pots in Felixstowe and Trimley; altogether the Friends of Felixstowe have raised over £130,550 for the hospice since the group's inception.

Lena Moreton, group secretary at Felixstowe Friends, said: "Many members of the Felixstowe Friends group support St Elizabeth Hospice for personal reasons as they have received hospice help for their loved ones. Others like to support a local service that does such good work and many feel it is important to do voluntary work."

Typically meeting, every four to six weeks, to discuss fundraising plans over tea and cake, Felixstowe Friends is very much a social group which is always looking for new faces to join its activity in support of St Elizabeth Hospice.

An independent charity, every year the hospice delivers specialist palliative care to more than 3,000 people living with a progressive or life-limiting illness, and their families, throughout East Suffolk, Great Yarmouth and Waveney.

Annually this service costs £12.9 million to deliver, with 70% of these funds being generated by the local community's support of the hospice's income streams such as retail shops, events, individual fundraising as well as gifts in Wills and donations.  

Brandon Orton, St Elizabeth Hospice Community Fundraiser, said: "The Felixstowe Friends, have been fantastic St Elizabeth Hospice supporters for many years, through their many fundraising activities and volunteering, we cannot thank them enough for helping the hospice.

"If you think you would like to volunteer your time with like-minded people to raise funds and promote awareness of a vital local cause in your community, then please do get in contact as your support would be greatly appreciated."

For more information about joining Felixstowe Friends, or if you would like to create a new group in East Suffolk, Great Yarmouth and Waveney, contact Brandon Orton, St Elizabeth Hospice Community Fundraiser, by emailing - [email protected]

To find out more about St Elizabeth Hospice call 01473 723600 or visit www.stelizabethhospice.org.uk.