Mystery £1,000 handed over to Hospiscare

Local charity Hospiscare has officially received the £1,000 left in a bag outside one of its city shops.

Amy Broadway, deputy manager of Hospiscare’s flagship Fore Street shop handed the cash over today to Hospiscare nurses at the Dryden Road hospice.

Police released the cash after nobody came forward to claim it.

Six weeks ago £1,020 was left in a large bag, containing a purple quilt, just by the front door a few minutes before staff arrived to open up in the morning.

Hospiscare staff nurse Megan Woodman, who received the cash, said: “This is wonderful news. We are so grateful and thrilled that a mystery donor has recognised the vital role Hospiscare plays in our local community.

"At the moment we have 10 patients on the ward but two more are due in and we will be full by the end of today.

“We provide free expert care for terminally ill people, not just here at the hospice but also helping people to remain in their own homes, surrounded by friends and families, thanks to our Hospiscare community nurses.

"This very generous donation has given us all a boost – thank you so much.”

This year it will cost £5m to run Hospiscare with £1.2m contributed by the NHS and the remaining funded through legacies, grants, Hospiscare’s 19 shops and retail services as well as significant community fundraising by local people, organisations and businesses.

Hospiscare provides professional support and care annually for 2,000 patients and their families living across Exeter, East and Mid Devon.