Hospice needs Xtra help

Hospice needs Xtra help

HOSPICE is calling on Xtra customers to choose them when they get the chance to vote for who gets a chunk of Telecom's $1m donation to charity next week.

As part of its apology for recent email problems Telecom has announced it will donate $1m to charity, with the four most voted charities receiving $250,000 each.

"To hospice, $250,000 would go a long way to helping a lot of people make the most of life. So when you get the chance to vote, choose hospice," urges Hospice New Zealand chief executive Mary Schumacher.

All the country's hospices are members of Hospice New Zealand, providing free palliative care to people living with a terminal illness while also supporting family/whanau and friends.

"Hospice is the strong but reasonably silent type. All care is free of charge but it costs millions to provide," says Mrs Schumacher.

Broadcaster and Wellington's Mary Potter Hospice patron Maggie Barry says not having enough money must never be a barrier to using the wonderful range of services hospices have to offer. "Vote hospice to help keep them free to all."

Hospice New Zealand ambassador and celebrity chef Jo Seagar agrees. "Just get your friends and family to vote for hospice so we have a shot at that money, because boy oh boy do hospices need it."

Hospice partner House of Travel reiterates these comments - founder and managing director Chris Paulsen says: "This is a great opportunity for New Zealanders to help hospice become one of the four selected charities and support such an incredibly valuable service which operates with a significant reliance on community efforts."

For more information visit www.hospice.org.nz

ENDS

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