CALDERDALE businesses of all sizes are urged to help fund the work of Overgate Hospice by becoming corporate members.
It costs around £1.9 million a year to run the hospice for the terminally ill.
The local Primary Care Trust covers slightly less than one fifth of that figure with the rest raised from voluntary sources.
The hospice needs £4,000 a day to provid
e care and relies heavily on the local community.
Corporate fund-raiser Kathy Rogan has been working hard to boost the number of companies which make donations.
The number of members has already grown from 11 to 45 since her launch of the corporate membership fund in June.
Now the hospice is urging more businesses to join so it can reach its target of 50 members by Christmas.
"We have a diverse range of businesses as corporate members," said Mrs Rogan.
"Membership is £120 per year – that's only £10 per month, for businesses of all sizes."
Currently around 2 per cent of the £1.9 million running costs comes from businesses, but the hospice is aiming at increasing this.
Mrs Rogan said becoming a corporate member was an ideal way for businesses to increase their corporate social responsibility profile.
Some of the benefits of joining the corporate membership include getting links to their websites from Overgate's website.
"There are still a lot of businesses unaware of the membership but when they know they are keen to join.
"Some have doubled the amount they give. And for the first time we have had a lot more corporate sponsors for events this year which has made a big difference."
The corporate members who have joined since the summer include fine art business A J Callan, Calder Valley Skip Hire, C3S Group Ltd, Eastwood and Partners solicitors, Riley and Co accountants, Halifax Kitchen Company, Design and Display, Marshalls of Southowram, Richard Baldwin Motorhomes, Southdale Homes and Yorkshire Bank.
Any companies which want to join can call the fund-raising office on 01422 387121 or e-mail
kathryn.rogan@overgatehospice.nhs.uk.
