Kind Janice makes chari-tea donation
ECHO WINNER DONATES YEAR’S SUPPLY OF PG TIPS TO CITY HOSPICE
A kind-hearted Echo competition winner has made a tea rific donation with her prize.
Janice Bray, 65, from Peterlee, was the first name out of the hat when we drew our competition to win a year’s supply of PG tips.
But instead of keeping the prize of 700 bags of the brand’s new brews, the Tasty Decaf and Perfect with Dairy Free, to herself, Janice decided to donate them to the Benedict’s Bistro at St Benedict’s Hospice to keep the Ryhope charity’s costs down.
Hearing about Janice’s gesture, PG tips bumped up the prize and donated a further six boxes of its original brew, which equates to 1,400 bags of tea, as well as Monkey merchandise and vouchers for a further 2,400 bags.
The hospice is a cause close to Janice’s heart after dedicated staff cared for her sister Val Taylor in her final days at the former site in Monkwearmouth.
Since then Janice has raised funds for the cause and when she retired became a volunteer at the bistro and trustee of the charity.
She said: “I don’t usually enter competitions, but I saw this one in the paper and thought it would be a great way to help the hospice.
“The bistro is a really well-used part of the hospice, whether it be for family members who need a bit of a break or members of the public, such as taxi drivers and emergency services workers, who often call in for a cuppa when they are passing.”
As well as being sold in the bistro, the tea will be served for free to day pa- tients and on the wards.
Catrina Flynn, head of fundraising at St Benedict’s Hospice, said: “We’re always looking to raise money or save money where we can, so Janice’s donation and the extra donation from PG tips is a great help. Tea is such a quintessentially British thing and it’s a great comfort for people.
“A lot of people don’t realise that the bistro is open to members of the public, but it’s open seven days a week and all profits are ploughed back into patient care.”
Fiachra Moloney, PG tips marketing manager, said: “When we heard that Janice was gifting her prize to St Benedict’s Hospice, we were really touched by her generosity, and wanted to help as much as we could.
“A cup of tea provides great comfort, and we’re so pleased that we’re able to offer this to family, friends and members of the hospice.”
St Benedict’s Hospice has provided specialist palliative care to the people of Sunderland and surrounding districts since 1984.
“I thought the prize would be a great way to help the hospice” JANICE BRAY