The Martlets receive large donation

The Martlets Hospice in Hove have just relieved a £5000 donation from the Making A Difference Locally (MADL) charity, a charity that helps independent retailers that are members of Nisa raise money for local communities.

Making A Difference Locally has donated to 52 hospices across the UK and Ireland to help people with life-limiting illnesses.

The MADL charity works with suppliers so that retailers can raise funds in their store through the sale of selected products with up to 5p being allocated every time a product is purchased. 95% of the funds raised this way are donated to charities across the UK and Ireland.

The MADL was established in 2008 and have donated £2.75 million to local, regional and national charities.

Since opening in 1997, The Martlets Hospice has helped more than 24,000 people and it's not only the patients themselves who they care for, long-term support is also on offer for families and carers to help them through the hard times. The Martlets services are free of charge yet they receive less than one third of their funding from the NHS so need to raise over £8000 a day to help their patients and their families.

John Heagney from the MADL board said: "The Making A Difference Locally charity has donated significant amounts to charities and good causes across the UK and Ireland and we are delighted to make these donations to help such a large number of hospices which play a truly vital role in their local communities.

Robert Griffiths, Director of Fundraising at the Martlets Hospice said: "On behalf of the Martlets Hospice I'd like to thank MADL for such a generous donation, £5,000 will go to our Hospice at Home service; this service enables patients to choose to be cared for in their own homes. £5,000 will allow them to provide care for ten patients at home for four days; patients' families will also be offered vital help and advice. All our services are provided free of charge and as we have to raise over £3 million a year to continue to provide these services, community support like this is essential"
To find out more about the Martlets Hopsice please visit their website, www.themartlets.org.uk