The people of South Devon have shown extraordinary generosity and community spirit, helping Rowcroft Hospice raise more than £211,000 in just 36 hours through its Every Moment Matters Appeal.
The ambitious matched-funding campaign challenged the community to come together over a single 36-hour period – and they rose to the occasion. The appeal not only hit its target of £200,000 but exceeded it, highlighting the depth of support for local hospice care. Thanks to generous match funding pledged by local businesses, groups and individuals, every donation made during the appeal was doubled – amplifying the impact for families facing life-limiting illness across South Devon.
Alison Upton, Appeal Manager at Rowcroft Hospice, said:
“We are completely overwhelmed by the response. To see our community come together in this way – donating, sharing, fundraising and cheering us on – has been incredibly moving. Every single gift, no matter the size, represents someone choosing to support local families at one of the hardest times of their lives.
“The incredible funds raised will make a real and immediate difference, helping us continue to provide specialist care and support to people across South Devon when every moment truly matters.”
At the heart of the appeal was a message deeply embedded in everything Rowcroft does: every moment matters. It’s the philosophy behind the hospice’s care – helping people make the most of every precious moment with those they love.
And with just 36 hours to reach the fundraising target, every moment of the campaign mattered too. Every share, every conversation and every donation played a part in reaching this remarkable total.
The appeal’s ‘Champion’ fundraisers pulled out all the stops to make the appeal a roaring success, going to extraordinary lengths to share the appeal far and wide. The top six fundraisers were: Rowcroft’s Hospice at Home Team (£25,709), Rowcroft volunteer Jane Watson (£15,687), Ipplepen Cricket Club (£10,567), Torbay Business Forum (£8,296), Rowcroft supporter Kate Holmes (£7,292) and Rowcroft volunteer Di Feasby (£6,782).
As a volunteer in Rowcroft’s Inpatient Unit, fundraiser Jane Watson sees first-hand the difference that Rowcroft makes every day. She wrote on her fundraising page that Rowcroft Hospice is “the jewel in our English Riviera” and said:
“Over many years I have witnessed the commitment, the compassion the love , the support, the strength given by all the staff to patients their families and their friends.
“Over the last few years I have been caring for my own precious parents. It has been a rollercoaster of great emotions, overwhelming exhaustion both mentally and physically. I was so lost and lonely. But with the amazing support and help of carers, Rowcroft outpatients teams and our wonderful Hospice at Home team, we managed to keep my darling parents safe and comfortable in their own home where they wanted to be for the end of their lives.
For this I will be forever, eternally thankful. I feel so passionate that our wonderful Rowcroft Hospice continues the care and comfort for all end-of-life care patients, their families and friends.”
Funds raised through the appeal will help Rowcroft continue delivering care through its Inpatient Unit, Community Team and Hospice at Home service, supporting people to be where they feel most comfortable, surrounded by those they love.
The success of the campaign comes at a challenging time for hospices nationally, with rising costs and increasing demand placing significant pressure on services. With only around a quarter of its funding coming from the NHS, Rowcroft relies heavily on the generosity of the local community to sustain its vital end-of-life and palliative care.
Alison added:
“This appeal has shown just how much hospice care means to South Devon. The compassion and generosity we’ve seen over these 36 hours will directly translate into more families receiving specialist and compassionate care at the end of life. We simply couldn’t do what we do without the support of our brilliant local community.”
Rowcroft Hospice is thanking everyone who donated, shared the campaign on social media, provided match funding or encouraged friends and family to get involved – describing the appeal as a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when South Devon pulls together.
To find out more about Rowcroft’s work, visit rowcrofthospice.org.uk.
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Photo caption: Rowcroft fundraisers at Rainbow House, Rowcroft Hospice
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About Rowcroft Hospice
It takes time, compassion, medical expertise and money to help patients with life-limiting illnesses and their loved ones to make the most of every day, but every year Rowcroft Hospice helps around 2,500 people in South Devon to do just that.
By providing comfort, support and specialist services, the hospice enables families to share precious and joyful moments when they are needed most – whether it’s a beautiful wedding, remarkable reunion, simple thank you or gentle cuddle.
From Dartmouth to Dawlish and up onto Dartmoor, Rowcroft cares for 80% of its patients in their own homes with a team of community nurse specialists, social workers, and bereavement volunteers. The team also provides occupational therapy, physiotherapy, complementary therapy, spiritual care and music therapy, delivering a holistic approach tailored to individual needs.
Day and night, Rowcroft’s award-winning Hospice at Home team provide free specialist support to patients at home in their last few of weeks of life. The team helps to monitor and manage symptoms to enable patients to be comfortable and also offers support for loved ones, enabling carers to take much needed breaks. The service includes a dedicated telephone support line 24 hrs a day.
In Rowcroft’s 12-bedded Inpatient Unit in Torquay, the hospice’s team provides specialist care for patients whose complex needs cannot be met at home. Along with high quality health and social care, we also offer delicious homecooked meals and access to our beautiful gardens. The welcoming and homely environment helps patients and families to make the most of precious time together.
Rowcroft is an independent charity with around 75% of its funding derived from the incredible generosity of local people. The hospice team fully acknowledges the current challenging economic climate and is grateful for the local community’s continued support through these tough times; every pound raised makes a real difference.
With an increasingly ageing local population, the demand for Rowcroft’s care has never been greater. The charity currently cares for around one in three people with life-limiting illnesses across South Devon and has ambitious plans to expand its care to reach more people.
For more information, please visit www.rowcrofthospice.org.uk
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