MP Tracy promotes hospice across North Kirklees area
THE Kirkwood Hospice site in Dalton was full to capacity when community members came together to celebrate its special anniversary year.
Tracy Brabin, MP for Batley and Spen, decided to host a commemorative and celebratory tea party at the hospice to mark 30 years of outstanding care in Kirklees.
After selecting Kirkwood Hospice as her chosen charity for the month of September, Tracy aimed to raise vital funds as well as awareness of the work carried out by the hospice.
The anniversary party saw staff volunteers, service-users, friends of the hospice and deputy mayor of Kirklees, Clr Gwen Lowe, join together to enjoy a morning of raffles, tea, cake and home-made samosas.
An avid Kirkwood supporter in the past and previous participant of the Hospice’s Colour Rush event, Tracy is keen to continue her support this month.
She said: “Every month I have a Charity of the Month which I raise a minimum of £50 for and any more goes straight to the charity. This month we’ve got a number of ‘I Heart Batley and Spen’ tote bags on sale for £5 each, with all profits going towards the hospice.
“I’d been on a couple of visits to Kirkwood and I thought that the people of Batley and Spen don’t know about the hospice. I wanted to raise awareness for the people that I care about, so that they know it’s there, and they can be cared for.
“Kirkwood Hospice is like a private facility or a private hotel. Looking at the quality of the food, the gardens, the friendliness and the care, which is completely free and beautifully handled in an amazing facility, I just wanted to celebrate that and celebrate Kirkwood.
“There’s a lot of joy in a place where you’d maybe think there’d be a lot of sadness.
“Life may be hard when you go there but it’s an opportunity to re-think and live more positively, not just for people with illnesses, but for people with on-going conditions and their carers.”
“I hope that this is the beginning of a really deep relationship with the organisation because they all do amazing work and it’s such a privilege to know them.”
Delighted at the turn-out on the day, hospice chief executive, Michael Crowther, said:
“It has always been, and it continues to be, a real community effort to keep the services at the Hospice going, providing care and support to patients and their families in Kirklees. ■■Burglars smashed a hole in the side of a building on the Gallagher Retail park on September 8 at 10pm and attempted to gain entry to a cash machine without success.
“All of us at the hospice are extremely grateful and wish to extend our thanks to Tracy, for choosing to support Kirkwood and bringing us all together in our 30th year.”
To support Kirkwood in its 30th year and to purchase an exclusive ‘I heart Batley & Spen’ tote bag, email Tracy’s office at: tracy.brabin. mp@parliament.uk