Farnham-based folk group ‘Hidden Gem’ have donated £550 to local charity Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice Care, which provides supportive and end of life care for adult patients and families who are living with an advanced or terminal illness, such as cancer.

The money was raised at a harvest music evening held at the parish centre of St Joan of Arc church in Farnham, in October. Over seventy people came along to enjoy an evening of music covering a wide range of styles, from traditional Gaelic jigs and reels, to 60’s folk and pop, with some good old sea shanties, gospel, Beatles, John Denver, Eric Clapton, Don Maclean, and even a few drinking songs thrown in!

“The evening was a great success just in terms of social enjoyment,” said Alastair Emblem of Hidden Gem, “but the icing on the cake was the fantastic financial result. £1,000 was raised in total, which has been divided between Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice Care and St Joan of Arc Church.”

“We are very grateful to Alastair and Hidden Gem for their ongoing support of Phyllis Tuckwell,” said Samantha West, Community Fundraiser at Phyllis Tuckwell. “£550 could pay for one of our In-Patient Unit (IPU) nurses for nearly three days. Our IPU nurses care for up to five patients, providing 24-hour nursing care to patients, as well as offering emotional support to their families and carers.”

Every day, Phyllis Tuckwell supports over 250 patients, relatives and carers – in their own homes, in the community, at the Hospice in Farnham and at the Beacon Centre in Guildford – through medical and nursing care, therapies, counselling, social work advice and practical support. However, as the NHS/Government only covers 20% of its costs, it has to raise over £20,000 a day to be able to offer all of its services, which are given free of charge to its patients and their families. To find out more about how you could support Phyllis Tuckwell, visit www.pth.org.uk/fundraising.