Community rallies around St Michael’s Hospice

The damage caused by the fire at the hospice. Picture by Eddie Mitchell

Several charity events have already been set up by kind-hearted individuals.

Hayley Graham has set up a Just Giving page and already raised more than £1,000.

She said: “St Michael’s Hospice provides an incredible service and support for patients and their families, and this latest setback only causes their hard work to be erased.

“As the centre of the community, it is only right that we show how important the hospice is by helping to raise funds.”

Those wanting to donate can visit www.justgiving.com/StMichaelsHospiceFund.

Hastings Business Team is also holding a year-long series of fundraisers for the St Leonards charity. Visit www.justgiving.com/Nichola-Histed1.

Clive Raines’ Just Giving Page for the hospice can also be found at: www.justgiving.com/Clive-Raines1.

Leolyn Care Home, in Pevensey Road, also provided accommodation to affected hospice patients.

A spokesman for the home said: “We were all deeply shocked by the fire, but were determined to provide as much support as possible. The community really came together to help out at this time of need. Our staff team, the hospice staff and emergency services were absolutely fantastic, and we were proud to have been able to play our part to help.”

Kevin Boorman, spokesman for Hastings Borough Council, said: “I was incredibly impressed by the professionalism of everyone involved, in the most trying of circumstances.

“The staff at Leolyn clearly hadn’t been expecting most of the hospice patients to arrive in the early hours of Saturday, yet were incredibly accommodating.

“And the hospice staff were just superb. Despite what they had just been through, their only concern was their patients, carefully wiping smoke/soot from patients’ medical records to make sure they still received their vital medication.

“Professional does not start to describe how good they all were, in the most difficult conditions.”

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