‘I Love Winchester Hospice’ online event and auction hits £25K target

IT WAS called ‘I Love Winchester Hospice’ – and people clearly took a charity event to their hearts as their support helped fundraisers to smash a £25,000 goal.

‘I Love Winchester Hospice’ took place on Friday, February 5 – and the Winchester Hospice fundraising team are delighted that donors and sponsors made sure the online auction and entertainment event was a resounding success.

Thirty fabulous lots were up for grabs and the event, which more than 200 people logged on to, also featured cocktail and Valentine breakfast-making sessions and music from local singer Abi Clements.

Emmy award-winning CBS radio and TV broadcaster Liam Mayclem hosted the event from San Francisco with Winchester Hospice fundraising team members Mark Jones and Sabrina Marsden anchoring the Winchester end of the Zoom event from Chesil House.

A fantastic trip to San Francisco, a bottle of Champagne signed by Prime Minister Boris Johnson, a signed and framed Take That prize, and a racquet signed by tennis legend Boris Becker were just a few of the lovely lots that attracted bids in the week running up to the big night.

The support of ticket-buying attendees, sponsors and early bidders meant more than £12,000 was raised before the main event went live between 7pm and 8pm last Friday, and online bidding and donations to the hospice appeal saw the figure soar on the night.

Further donations came in after bidding closed at midnight, and the total, including gift aid, had reached a magnificent £26,362 by Tuesday lunchtime.

Winchester Hospice ambassador Mike Bridge was the driving force behind helping the Winchester Hospice fundraising team to create, plan and deliver the fundraiser, and he is delighted it has been such a success.

“I Love Winchester Hospice’ has been a great team effort,” said Mike. “Thank you to all the auction and raffle prize donors, event sponsors, and all those who bought tickets and put in bids. Everyone involved is delighted to have put on such a fun and enjoyable event that has raised a significant sum for the Winchester Hospice campaign.”

The donation portal on the event website – www.charityauction.bid/LoveWH – will remain open until midnight on Valentine’s Day, Sunday, February 14.

The fundraising appeal is now close to hitting the £3.7million capital target needed to get the Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust-run hospice open in the Summer.