The 1700 Business Networking Club have donated £250 to St Andrew’s Hospice which this year is celebrating its 25th anniversary.

The Club which is affiliated to Lanarkshire Chamber of Commerce invited Sam Lavery, former Hospice Fund-raising Director and now Chief Executive, to address their breakfast meeting in Motherwell’s Fir Park Centenary Suite.

Sam spoke of the high standard of loving care provided over the years by Hospice staff for thousands of patients with life-limiting illnesses which has contributed to putting Lanarkshire in the forefront of provision of palliative care.

He told members of the local business community: “St Andrew’s Hospice opened 24 years ago with just four beds for Lanarkshire patients suffering from cancer and other

life-limiting illnesses – today we operate 30 specialist palliative beds. “Despite constant expansion, our Hospice has balanced the books for the past 12 years and our Fundraising team organise more than 30 events each year as they continue to raise the £44,000 needed each week to maintain vital care services to 120 patients.”

The cheque was presented by Colin Dick, of Motherwell-based Clydeforth Promotional Products Ltd and chairman of The 1700 Business Networking Club.
“He said: “Our members are local business people, with most of them dealing directly or indirectly with the local community across Lanarkshire and we felt after hearing what Sam had to say so sincerely that we wanted to put something back into the local community.

“Coincidentally, while we were listening to Sam, one of our members and former club treasurer - Frank Ferguson of Dunedin Autos in Coatbridge – was in the middle of a sponsored walk from Assisi to Rome in aid of Hospice funds.”

For more information: St Andrews Hospice, Airdrie