Milton Keynes Mormons raise funds for Local Hospice

Local Mormons from the Milton Keynes, Bletchley and other congregations in the Northampton area of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints raised nearly £1200 for Willen Hospice in Milton Keynes.  The hospice is a registered charity which provides specialist care for people whose illness no longer responds to curative treatment.

A concert was held by the Brigham Young University Singers from Utah, USA earlier this year in front of the Mayor of Milton Keynes.  All profits from the young singers' concert went to this well known cause, which has been the recipient in the past by the Church.

This week the Chief Executive of Willen hospice, Paul Hinson, gratefully received a cheque from the two local bishops, Eliot Reeves and Nicholas Bail, for the monies raised.  Bishop Nicholas Bail stated, "It is inspiring to see the wonderful work Willen Hospice do to support those affected by life-limiting illnesses. Knowing people who have personally been recipients of this care, I can see how vital it is to them, their families and loved ones during this critical time of their lives."  There are around 200 regularly attending members of the two local congregations who meet in Two Mile Ash in Milton Keynes.

As the hospice only receives 23% of funding from the government it has the annual task of raising 3.4 million pounds to cover the yearly operating costs.  Funds were first raised by members back in 2003 when a sponsored walk around Willen Lake was organised following the care a local member received in the hospice.  A 'Helping Hands' service project took place in 2005 where 300 members packed and donated emergency kits and tidied the hospice gardens. The hospice also received aid from the Church's 'Humanitarian Aid' to assist with the purchasing of vital and much needed equipment.
 

Pictured from L to R - Bishop Eliot Reeves of the Bletchley congregation, CEO Paul Hinson of Willen Hospice, Bishop Nicholas Bail of the Milton Keynes congregation and Debbie Twigger from the local organising committee for the BYU Singers