Fundraising group's total hits £250,000 for Severn Hospice

The West Shrewsbury Support Group has been raising money for the Severn Hospice for the last 29 years and last year's efforts pushed it past the £250,000 mark since it began fundraising – as well as breaking the record for the total raised in one year, which was £16,000 in 2014.

John Fairclough, vice chairman of trustees of the Severn Hospice, said the group deserved huge credit for their years of support.

He said: "My congratulations to the West Shrewsbury Support Group upon their magnificent record-breaking year.

"It is an absolute privilege to work with such a wonderful group of friends of the hospice who have done so much to help and support us in so many ways for so many years."

The group presented its latest cheque as it begins its 30th year of fundraising.

The £16,000 raised last year surpassed the previous record total for one year's fundraising and included the proceeds from a packed Last Night of the Proms concert held at Theatre Severn.

The musical extravaganza featured performances from the Shrewsbury Light Orchestra under the baton of conductor Peter Road-Night and orchestra lead Sheila Thompson.

It included performances from soprano Jessica Johnson and baritone Andrew Murray, as well as an appearance by members of the Bugle Platoon of the Shropshire Army Cadet Force.

The audience obviously enjoyed the performance with a bucket collection at the conclusion of the concert raising a further £750.

Pat Hoyland, chair of the West Shrewsbury Support Group, said they had been thrilled with the support of the public who had helped them raise the record total.

She said: "I never cease to be amazed by the generosity of the people who attend and the result of the bucket collection is wonderful.

"The concert brought down the curtain on our latest fundraising year which also included a Christmas coffee morning, bridge with afternoon tea, a summer lunch and an afternoon tea in a marquee.

"We have enjoyed a record-breaking fundraising year for the hospice and now look forward to our 30th anniversary in support of this quite amazing caring community."

The Severn Hospice gives specialist care and support free of charge to families across Shropshire and North Powys who are living with an incurable illness.

A spokesman for the charity said: "Our hospice is part of health services offered to people living in Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin and North Powys but we are not part of the NHS. We are a completely independent charity, having to raise around two-thirds of our running costs."