HOSPICE staff in Burnley and Pendle are launching their own lottery draw with the promise that the chances of hitting the jackpot are thousands of times better than the national game.

Hospice Care for Burnley and Pendle hopes the gamble on its own game of chance will pay off and add up to a massive fund-raising boost for the charity.

Players will receive a unique number entered into a weekly draw with the chance to win a £1,000 top prize.

The group, based at Pendleside Hospice, Colne Road, Reedley, will launch the game next spring to help meet the high cost of running care and facilities for terminally ill patients. Organisers hope the lottery will raise tens of thousands of pounds a year to run services. They will continue to rely on the generous giving and fund-raising of local people.

"It costs approximately £2,100 a day to run the hospice," said its appeals and marketing manager Mark Sandamas.

"We have spent some time researching a lottery operation, which are run by over 80 hospices around the country, and have been very impressed and encouraged. They raise substantial amounts of money without detracting from existing sources. The chances of winning the jackpot are over 2,000 times better than the National Lottery and, of course, all of the proceeds go directly to caring for local people."

Hospice chairman, Muriel Jobling, added: "In the past 12 months the hospice has cared for over 500 patients, together with many more people who access their services. These include carers and family and friends of the patient.

"The messages of thanks and support we receive mean so much to us and show we are providing a vital service. However funding is a constant battle and we need to develop this new source of regular income."

The hospice is looking for a lottery manager to oversee the project.

Organisers hope at least 2,000 people will take part in the first draw, rising to 7,000 members by the end of the first year. They will pay £1 a week either by direct debit or through door-to-door collectors and be given a number. The numbers will be fed into a computer which will randomly choose the winners.

Although the figures have yet to be confirmed it is expected there will be a top prize of £1,000 and a weekly total prize fund of £1,500.

The top prize winners will be notified by telephone and all winners will receive a cheque through the post.

"We're very confident that we won't be in a situation where we're giving out more in prizes than we're taking in," said Mr Sandamas.

The hospice will lose its £93,000 a year funding from the National Lottery Charities Board in 18 months for home visits to patients by nursing staff.

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