St Gemma’s Hospice to stage innovative fundraising appeal

The precious time appeal will see donors get their support instantly doubled

On Sunday 21 and Monday 22 April, St Gemma’s Hospice will stage a first for Leeds – an online fundraising appeal using the CharityExtra platform, where donors will have their support instantly doubled. To enable this, the charity has persuaded a group of major donors to provide a pool of matching funds, which will only be available during the 36-hour window of the appeal.

The Precious Time Appeal will tell the story of the incredible care given by St Gemma’s at the end of life. If you are using hospice services, however long you have – months, weeks, days – it is not long and it is very precious. In a specially commissioned film, donors will see how St Gemma’s does everything it can to make this precious time as liveable and special as possible.

The idea of precious time also applies to the 36-hour window of the appeal, the short time in which donors can get their donation doubled and therefore their impact. This innovative fundraising appeal will be led by a group of champions, assembled by the charity, who will invite their networks to support the Precious Time Appeal on Sunday 21 and Monday 22 April.

Demand for St Gemma’s services is growing all the time. Indeed, a report on Government Funding for Hospices from the All Party Parliamentary Group on Hospice and End of Life Care, published last month, projects a 25% increase in the need for palliative care over the next 25 years.

Chief Executive Kerry Jackson OBE says, “Demand for palliative care at our hospice and in the community is growing all the time, so St Gemma’s has to do more to sustain the vital care we provide. The Precious Time Appeal is a unique opportunity for those who want to support our work, to get their donation instantly doubled. Thanks to our generous matching fund donors and our champions, I’m confident that this innovative appeal will make a huge difference to patient care at St Gemma’s.”

You can support St Gemma’s Precious Time Appeal by:

Becoming a Champion for the campaign

Champions set up a page on the website at https://www.charityextra.com/stgemmas/signup and share it with their friends, family, networks and customers over the 36 hours, encouraging them to donate to St Gemma’s.
Every donation you receive will be doubled by the Precious Time match funders up to at least £100,000. So if £5 was donated, St Gemma’s would receive £10, and if they gift aided their donation we could actually receive £11.25.

Set yourself a reminder to donate

During the 36 hour period St Gemma’s would really appreciate any donations to help the hospice to unlock this incredible match fund. Follow them on social media to keep up to date and set a reminder for the 21st and 22nd April and make your donation.

Follow the story

St Gemma’s will be launching the film and sharing the story behind the appeal, along with live updates on fundraising progress, across their social media channels. Follow them on social media to keep up to date!