Fulwood St Catherine’s Hospice volunteer marks 40 years of service with lottery win

St Catherine’s Hospice volunteer Ann Loan and chief executive Lynn Kelly

A grandma who has volunteered for St Catherine’s for 40 years has celebrated after a £2,000 charity lottery win.

Ann Loan from Fulwood began volunteering in a shop to raise funds for the development of the Lostock Hall hospice nearly 40 years ago.

A few years later, she joined the St Catherine’s lottery when it launched as another way to support the cause and is now looking forward to treating herself and her family.

Ann said: “St Catherine’s was the first hospice in the country to launch a lottery, and I signed up straight away.

“It’s still only £1 a week, and I pay by direct debit, so I don’t even need to think about it, and it’s a good way to give a small contribution on a regular basis. Every penny adds up for the hospice.

“I’ve won the odd £5 over the years but never expected to win this much. When I received the letter, I thought it was really nice that I’d won £200 – and then I realised it was £2,000, and I couldn’t believe it! I was so shocked.”

She was delighted to win the weekly top prize, and after treating her six grandchildren, she aims to book a weekend away for her and her husband Norman, who has also supported the hospice through the years.

Ann said: “The grandchildren got an extra treat at Christmas, and I think one of these days I’ll spend some of it on myself.

“Norman and I haven’t been away since before the pandemic, so I think I’ll save some for a weekend away.”

Ann initially volunteered in a shop in Church Street, Preston, set up as part of the fundraising effort by the community to open a hospice in the area.

She lent a hand on the inpatient unit for around 25 years before volunteering in the reception gift shop, and now she helps out at the newest shop within the hospice grounds, The Mill Shop.

She said: “It’s a truly wonderful place. You couldn’t ask for better care for your loved ones.

“Some of my very close friends have been cared for by St Catherine’s, and I would often speak to people on the inpatient unit and patient visitors in the reception shop, so I’ve seen first-hand what a difference the charity makes.

“The philosophy isn’t about coming to the hospice to die; it’s about helping people to live. Of course, it can also be very sad at times; it can be heartbreaking.”

She said the staff and volunteers go above and beyond, and it is a welcoming and happy place, with the charity going from strength to strength.

Ann, recently a great-grandma, said: “The lottery is one way to help look after people at a difficult time in their life.

“The care provided by St Catherine’s is so essential, and we must help to keep it going. Fundraising has been affected over the past two years, so the more people play the lottery, the better.”

The lottery funds the care of one in 10 of St Catherine’s patients on the inpatient unit and in homes through the community clinical nurse specialist team.

Sheila Kennard, head of lottery and promotions, said: “We’re delighted that Ann has won the weekly jackpot. She has done so much to help the hospice over the years, and we really value her and all of our volunteers’ dedication.

“The lottery is one of our most reliable and sustainable sources of income because knowing we can depend on our members’ weekly donation allows us to budget and plan for the future care of local people affected by life-shortening illnesses.

“It is valuable to us when other fundraising streams can be unpredictable, as we’ve seen during the last two years.”

Sheila congratulated Ann and thanked her and other lottery members for their ongoing support.

For more information on the lottery, visit- www.stcatherines.co.uk or call 01772 695298.

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