Hospice in Harrogate gets a makeover thanks to Asda Foundation grant

Colleagues from our Harrogate store called in to see the difference a £10,000 grant from the Asda Foundation has made to the nearby St Michael's Hospice.

Angela Smith from Asda Harrogate presents a cheque for £10,000 to St Michael's Hospice

The donation has been used to decorate, furnish and install air conditioning in the hospice's reception area, therapy rooms and day centre – and Asda Harrogate store manager Mark Buck says it's really moving to see how much Asda's support means to the wonderful team at the hospice.

Mark said: "The hospice is such a terrific place and they do an amazing job helping so many people. Having been there myself and witnessed the work they do you can see that this grant has made a big difference. The nurses we met were over the moon with the investment, and it was quite humbling to see.

"Walking into a hospice must be a daunting, so it's great that it now looks so much brighter and friendlier.

The day therapy unit at St Michael's Hospice in Harrogate has been redecorated thanks to a £10,000 grant from the Asda Foundation

"The people who work and volunteer their time there are real heroes. They do such great work for the people of Harrogate and we're delighted to be able to help however we can."

Colleagues at the store raised £1,400 for the hospice last year, inspired by the store's fresh manager Phil Ngoma, whose father was a patient at the hospice. Phil organised a fundraising football match for the hospice at Harrogate Town and is a passionate supporter of the hospice's work. He joined Mark and the store's community champion Angela Smith to present the cheque and take a tour of the hospice.

Colleagues from Asda Harrogate presented £10,000 from the Asda Foundation to St Michael's Hospice — Phil Ngoma from Asda Harrogate with nurses Aprille McFarthing and Ruth Hare

Tony Collins, chief executive of St Michael’s Hospice, said donations like this are vital to its work.

He said: “As an independent charity at the heart of our community, we are extremely grateful when businesses such as Asda choose to support us. The donation kindly made by Asda has made a real difference to Saint Michael’s enabling us to redecorate vital patient and visitor areas.

"With the majority of our funding coming from our community, we would simply not be able to continue to provide our special care without support of this kind.”