Sarah’s story

Prospect’s raffle is a fun way to make a serious difference for families like ours this Christmas.

Firstly, I want to say a huge thank you. The support you’ve shown the hospice through playing the raffle hasn’t gone unnoticed. I’ve got my fingers crossed for a win for you this time!

Before my dad got ill, I thought of Prospect Hospice as the place that cared for people through their toughest – and often last – days. Well, they are that. But now I know they’re so much more.

Prospect’s nurses looked after my dad wonderfully at home for months. Then, as the Christmas tree went up, his illness developed, and we all knew he was better off at the hospice.

The thing I’ll never forget is how utterly amazing the team were. Even though they had families of their own celebrating at home without them, their focus was always on looking after us. Nothing was too much trouble. They made room for sharing a laugh, and I didn’t feel for one moment they’d rather be anywhere else. They created the next best thing to home for us at the worst time. Now I want that for more people.

That’s why, this year, I’m asking you to join me in playing Prospect’s Christmas raffle; to raise funds so more people can get the amazing care they deserve this Christmas.

There’s an incredible £2,000 cash prize to be won. Now, wouldn’t that be an amazing way to kick off 2025? The best bit is, the prize pot has been donated by Imagine Cruising, so every penny from people playing the raffle goes to supporting families like mine.

Buying 25 tickets could pay for an hour of specialist care from a nurse for a patient spending Christmas in the hospice. And if you can afford to give an extra Christmas gift of £10, that could pay for two delicious home cooked meals for them on Christmas day, too!

All you have to do is pop your stickers on the stubs and return them in your envelope with your response form. Or you can buy tickets online through Prospect’s website at prospect-hospice.net/raffle.

I know this year – like so many before – Prospect’s inpatient unit will be full. In fact, there’ll be a waiting list, as sadly the hospice only has enough funding to keep six beds open. That’s not to mention all the care happening out in our community right across Swindon and north east Wiltshire as well as Fairford and Lechlade.

Last Christmas will never leave me. It was strange to think people were unwrapping presents and setting the table while we were in the unit. Of course it was painful for all of us, but the hospice made it the best it could be. On Christmas Day the nurses came round with gift bags for everyone. I remember there were handwritten messages from local school children. Knowing people were thinking of us during such a hard time – it really gave me strength.

My dad was a joker, through and through (in fact, it’ll always be a family joke that he died on Christmas Day – because he hated it!). He would have wanted me to make something good, fun and hopeful out of us losing him.

Once we get past this first anniversary, we look forward to raising a toast to Dad each year – he would’ve loved that. But this Christmas I want to make sure other patients and their families – who are going through so much – get looked after properly, too.

Will you play Prospect’s Christmas raffle, and help them create the next best thing to home for patients like my dad?

Thank you, for being just a small part of my dad’s story. Merry Christmas to you and all your family.