New Hillingdon Mayor chooses MSH

The new Mayor of Hillingdon, Catherine Dann, has chosen to fundraise the Michael Sobell Hospice in Northwood for her 2014/15 Charity Appeal. Cllr Dann launched her charity appeal on Wednesday August 6 at the Civic Centre in Uxbridge alongside Mayoress Rita Kilroy and she praised the wonderful care given by Michael Sobell Hospice. She said: “Both the Mayoress and I have personal experience of the services Michael Sobell Hospice offers, and the comfort, help and support they provide for patients and their families. It is vital that they remain at the heart of our local community for many years to come. Ensuring they have the best equipment and facilities possible will help them to continue their important work. At the launch event, the Mayor called on community groups, local businesses, schools and individuals to play their part in raising money for her appeal. She also presented Michael Sobell Hospice with a £629 cheque, taken from the money she had raised thanks to people’s generous donations, to be used to buy a lawnmower and sundial requested by the hospice’s team of volunteer gardeners. There was also a surprise announcement at the Mayor’s launch made by Cllr Ray Puddifoot, Leader of Hillingdon Council, of the council’s £30,000 donation to the Mayor’s Charity Appeal. This amount was raised from the first five months’ proceeds of the council’s new weekly household textile collection service, which started last October. Melanie Burfitt, Director of Income Generation at Michael Sobell Hospice, said: “We are really excited that the Mayor has chosen to support our charity this year. It will not only raise our profile further within the wider community in the borough but will also raise much needed funds for patient care at MSH. We look forward to working with the Mayor in this exciting year ahead. Barclays, which supports the Mayor’s Charity Appeal and will match-fund money raised at various events throughout Cllr Dann’s term as Mayor, also attended the launch.