THE Hospice Angels campaign hit a milestone £10,000 this week, just one month after it launched.

This means that the Gazette is now an impressive third of the way to achieving its target of £30,000.

Fantastic community fundraising efforts have meant that the campaign has been able to keep the momentum up over the past four weeks.

Proprietors of the Smithy Inn in Holme, Pam and Tom Baxter, held a quiz night with a raffle in aid of the campaign.

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"It was well supported by the people that came in," Pam said. "We were chuffed with £250 for one night."

And 71-year-old June Phillips, who shaved her head for the cause, has received £1,185.85 in donations to add to her own personal donation of £1,000.

The money raised by both Ms Phillips and the Baxters will go towards funding a St John's Hospice at Home nurse for a full year.

The nurses, who are available 24-hours a day, offer specialist palliative care at the end of life to allow those who wish to remain in their homes during their final days.

St John's Hospice and all of its services costs £4million a year to run. Although one third of that money comes from NHS funding - the remaining two thirds is raised through donations.

Head of fundraising at St John's, Catherine Butterworth, said she was 'thrilled' with the progress of the campaign so far.

"We have had lots of people calling us to ask how they can help," Catherine said. "We have a dedicated fundraising team based at our furniture shop on Highgate in Kendal. Anyone is welcome to pop in and see them and they can help and advise you on fundraising ideas, from organising coffee mornings and jumble sales to marathons and jumping out of a plane! We urge anyone who has ever thought about fundraising to get together with friends, family and colleagues and help us hit our target."

So far the Gazette has received donations ranging from £5 to £1,000, with more than 100 generous people contributing to the total so far.

Andrew Thomas, editor of The Westmorland Gazette, said that he hoped the community's enthusiasm for the campaign would continue over the coming weeks.

"It's wonderful to see that the readers of The Westmorland Gazette have got behind the campaign so wholeheartedly," he said. "It's been a fantastic first month for the campaign and we're now well on our way to achieving our target of £30,000."

To donate to the Hospice Angels campaign, complete the coupon below or go to www.sjhospice.org.uk/hospiceangels to donate online.

PLEASE MAKE CHEQUES PAYABLE TO 'HOSPICE ANGELS'.

If you or your family has been helped by a Hospice at Home nurse and would like to share your story, please contact Sara Royle on 01539 790260 or email sara.royle@nqnw.co.uk