FUNDS raised for Hospice Care for Burnley and Pendle have smashed through the £2 million mark.

The generosity of local people was praised by chairman Muriel Jobling at the 10th anniversary meeting when it was reported record income for the year amounted to over £748,000.

Donations, legacies and gifts totalled almost one third of a million pounds and the Hospice shops had raised almost £100,000.

Expenditure had also risen to almost £600,000 with the opening of the Hospice and another £100,000 had been spent on completion of Pendleside.

Expenditure this year, however, was likely to exceed £800,000 with revenue deficits forecast. Discussions are taking place to enable the Hospice to appoint its own medical adviser, to assist local GPs and District Nurses care for people in their own home and the support offered by the Hospice at Home team.

General manager Drew Kimber reported there had now been 225 admissions.

The Hospice at Home service had treated 80 patients within seven months. Guest speaker at the annual meeting in Burnley Town Hall was Dr Ged Corcoran, chairman of the Palliative Care Group for the North West

The Colne and Nelson Fund-raising Group presented a cheque for £3,500, bringing their contribution since Pendleside opened to over £30,000.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.