Pilgrims Hospices Lottery is celebrating 30 years of supporting local hospice care by launching a simple new way to join the fun. Tickets are now available to purchase in all Pilgrims Hospices shops across east Kent.
How the Lottery Works
At just £1 per entry, the weekly lottery offers players the chance to win up to £20,000 while helping to fund vital hospice care for patients and families across the region. Lottery manager Shiralee Riddell said the milestone is an opportunity to reflect on how far both the lottery and hospice care have come since 1996.
"When the lottery began, our therapy centres supported around 200 patients. Today, that number has grown; we support thousands of patients, carers and their loved ones each year," she said.
Expansion of Services
Over the past three decades, Pilgrims Hospices has significantly expanded its services, including the opening of its Ashford hospice in 2001, the launch of Hospice at Home in 2009, and the Education and Training Centre, the Ann Robertson Centre, in 2013. Behind the scenes, the lottery has also evolved, introducing festive Superdraws, scratch cards, wedding favours, gift vouchers, and direct debit payments to make joining easier. Being able to buy weekly entries in Pilgrims shops makes it even simpler for local people to get involved.
Anniversary Celebrations
As part of the 30th anniversary celebrations, Pilgrims' much-loved promotional car, Lotty, will be touring the area raising awareness. The lottery currently receives around 21,500 weekly entries, helping to raise more than £1.2 million each year towards end-of-life care across in-patient units, community services, and hospice at home support.
To join the Pilgrims Hospices Lottery, call 01227 379741 or visit their website at pilgrimshospices.org/lottery.
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