AN anonymous benefactor to Julia's House put a postman's skills to the test when a car was addressed to the new children's hospital being built in Devizes.
For when he arrived with the card he found just a building site for the hospice which is due to open in the spring.
Julia’s House Wiltshire fundraising manager Ian Wadley said: “Luckily one of our nurses was on site at the time and was able to intercept the envelope.
"The poor postman was stumped as we don’t have a front door or a post box at the moment."
The card contained £5 and simply said: “A little gift for Julia’s House. With love.”
Julia's House staff were delighted that the first piece of post for the children hospice being built at the old Kennet District Council offices at Browfort was such a nice surprise.
Although the hospice is not open yet, the charity’s team of nurses and carers are already busy across the county providing community and home-based care for children with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions
This frequent regular respite gives parents break from the demands of round-the-clock care for a very sick child. Once the new dedicated children’s hospice opens it will act as a hub for care sessions and social events and will enable Julia’s House to offer its award-winning respite service and palliative care to even more families who need support.
Mr Wadley said: ”We are busy fundraising to buy specialist equipment and to fund nurses and carers. It was lovely to receive such a kind note and a donation. Every little really does help as we rely on public support for 95 per cent of our funding.”
Fundraisers for the hospice are also celebrating a successful first Christmas fair in Wiltshire.
The fair, at The Stones Hotel in Salisbury, was supported by 40 local stall holders and raised £1270.
Santa and his elves were kept very busy in their grotto, and children were entertained in the queue by having their faces painted. Guests were able to purchase German culinary delights including gluhwein and bratwurst.
The event was organised by the charity’s Salisbury Plain Friends’ group, which formed in June. The members volunteer their time to support Julia’s House by raising money and awareness for the charity. So far they have raised more than £3500.
Jan Burns, Julia’s House Community Fundraiser for Wiltshire, said: “We want to say a huge thank you to everyone that supported our first Christmas Fayre and made it such a success. The friends group’s next big event is a “Night with the Stars Ball’, on the 4th February 2017, at the Stones Hotel, Salisbury. Tickets cost £50 and include a champagne reception, a three-course meal, entertainment and an auction. ”
The charity is also preparing for its next big Christmas event in Wiltshire which will be Carols by Candlelight at Marlborough College chapel on December 8. It will be a night of festive poetry, prose and Christmas carol favourites.
Until Julia’s House Devizes opens all mail needs to be directed to the charity’s fundraising office: Suite 1, Second Floor, Minton House, Minton Distribution Park, London Road, Amesbury, Wiltshire, SP4 7RT. Tel: 01980 677105 or email Wiltshire@juliashouse.org. Find out more about the charity at juliashouse.org.