Hospice donation tribute to Liam
HUNDREDS of pounds have been donated to a hospice in memory of devoted NUFC fan Liam Sweeney killed in the MH17 terrorist atrocity.
Liam was travelling to watch Newcastle United’s pre-season tour in New Zealand when the Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 came down over eastern Ukraine in 2014, killing 298 people.
Now his former colleagues at Morrisons, in Killingworth, where he had worked for many years, have raised £1,650 for charity.
And Liam’s stepmother Lesley suggested making the donation to the North Tyneside Day Hospice because she visits it herself.
His dad Barry Sweeney said: “Since Liam died he has never been forgotten and charitable work like this helps to keep his memory alive.
“We wanted the donation to be used locally and we chose the day hospice because we wanted to give the people who come here something extra to look forward to.”
The hospice, at North Tyneside General Hospital, provides day care support for patients with a palliative diagnosis.
A drop-in support service is also available every Thursday from 10am to 1pm for people with life-limiting conditions and their families which includes access to complementary therapies and financial advice.
Hospice sister Lucy Hewitt said: “We are incredibly grateful to Barry and Lesley and the staff at Morrisons for their generosity. This donation will go to providing the special extras which make such a difference to our patients.”
Morrisons Killingworth store manager Kevin Dixon said: “Liam was really well-liked in the store and his colleagues wanted to raise this money in his memory.”
The donation was made via Bright Northumbria which is the registered charity of Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. The charity aims to provide the extras to care that aren’t provided through regular NHS funding.
For more information contact Bright Northumbria on 0191 203 1354 or at brightcharity@northumbria.nhs.uk/charity Liam Sweeney