Public Asked To 'Buy A Brick' For Hospice

A Northern Ireland charity which cares for children, young people and adults with a life-limiting illness has launched a campaign to raise £3m for a new hospice building.

Local business, community, dignitaries and school representatives have pledged their support to help build a new hospice at Somerton Road, Belfast, for NI Hospice.

The fundraising campaign 'Buy a Brick – and help rebuild our hospice' was launched by local business Manny’s chip shop who have committed to raising as much as possible for the charity.   

Owner of Manny’s, Jane Adams shared her family’s recent experience of hospice care: "Just last month my Granda, Cecil Adams was cared for in Northern Ireland Hospice’s temporary inpatient unit at Whiteabbey. The high quality care that he received along with the attention given to our family during and after he died has been amazing. We received that care thanks to the generosity of people who give so generously to Hospice. We now are motivated to do as Granda taught us and give something back."

Northern Ireland Hospice has been operating for three decades from a Victorian building on Somerton Road.

Now the charity is in urgent need of a new hospice.

The full cost of the redevelopment scheme to deliver a new building with 18 specialist palliative care beds and enhanced education and research facilities is £11m. Funds will be secured from a number of streams but £3m is needed from public donations to meet the overall target.  

Speaking at the event, Siofra Healy, Director of Fundraising said: "We need to raise £3m from public donations and hope that our 'Buy a Brick' campaign captures the hearts and minds of the public to help meet this target. If 100,000 people each buy a brick at a minimum of £30 we will meet our target. Everyone who donates to buying a brick will have their name added to our special Buy a Brick donation book and will be invited to see the new Hospice before opening."

For further information visit www.nihospice.org or telephone the fundraising team on 90 781 836.

(IT/GK)