GOODWILL was in abundance at St Cross Hospital during the festive season.
Over 60 people gave up their time on over 200 occasions to cheer up lonely patients as part of the hospital’s Festive Befriending initiative.
Santa also visited to spread cheer among patients, volunteers and staff, and watched MP Mark Pawsey draw the annual Christmas Raffle which raised over £2,300.
And a special surprise took place on Christmas Day when Mayor Tom Mahoney was joined by members of the Long Lawford Community Choir to sing carols in the wards and the Urgent Care Centre.
Willy Goldschmidt, Chairman of the Friends of St Cross charity, said: “The raffle was a most welcome boost to our fundraising at the end of the year. By the end of November 2018 we had spent a record amount of approximately £229,000, and we could not do this without the tremendous support we receive from local businesses and the wider community.
“This was the second time that the Friends have run the Festive Befriending initiative and early feedback has been that it has been much appreciated by patients, staff and all those who took part. It was great to meet so many new potential volunteers of all ages.”
The Friends are holding volunteer recruitment events at the hospital’s Octopus Centre on Tuesday (January 15) from 5pm and 7pm and on Saturday February 2 between 10am and 1pm.
Willy added: “We have a wide variety of roles and services, some of which might suit working people with a bit of spare time. We welcome people from all corners of the community.”
