Strictly Come Dancing star Caroline Quentin has made an impassioned plea urging people to support of Bristol’s only adult hospice.
Caroline, who has been wowing viewers with her performances on this year’s series of Strictly, took time out from her busy rehearsal schedule to record the message in support of St Peter’s Hospice with dance partner Johannes Radebe.
Caroline has been a long time supporter of the hospice and when the charity launched its Room to Care fundraising drive to raise £1.5 million for a new inpatient unit, she became the appeal patron.
She also visited the hospice many times and was also the guest of honour when the new unit opened in November 2018 and welcomed its first patients.
The hospice is currently facing a £2 million funding gap as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
For the first time in its history, it has been forced reduce the number of beds at its inpatient unit from 15 to 10 and make staff redundant.
Now the charity is warning that the funding gap is likely to widen further with the second current lockdown, which has forced it to close its 51 charity shops once again.
The hospice has launched its When It Matters Most campaign, backed by Bristol Live, in a bid to recoup its losses to ensure the charity can continue to care for the people for generations to come.
In her message Caroline urged people to come to the aid of St Peter’s and continue to support the charity.
Filming alongside Johannes for her special message she said: “We are calling from Strictly Come Dancing and I just want to ask you a big favour.
“As you know I have been a keen supporter of St Peter’s Hospice for a long time now.
“And because of covid and going into the second lockdown, St Peter’s Hospice is really struggling and having to close down beds and we are about £2 million short of what we need to keep the place running.
“I know I have asked you before, but from Johannes and me, can you please keep giving to the wonderful St Peter’s Hospice.
“It is needed more now than ever.
“When it really matters most please send your donations.
“Love from Caroline and Johannes.”
Caroline finished off her message with the simple message to everyone to ‘keep dancing.’
To find out more about the When It Matters Most campaign and to make a donation click here.
