Dreamland Bedding Centre owner, Mike Brown, has made a £35,000 donation to Mary Stevens Hospice, as well as offering to completely furnish a new on-site apartment.

The Hospice has recently undergone a £3 million transformation, updating its day services facility for the first time since opening in 1991 to make care available for 40 more families every week. The new build will also incorporate a family apartment enabling families to move in when their loved ones are receiving care in the Hospice's residential in-patient unit.

Having heard about the plans, Mike "The Bed" Brown stepped forward to offer to furnish the entire apartment for free and make a £23,000 donation towards the cost of building the on-site living space for families. On top of the generous donation, the reputed local businessman has also made a £12,000 donation towards an education facility to improve the standard of healthcare in the Dudley Borough, which represents the fourth and final stage of the Hospice's regeneration plan which started back in 2013.

The Training and Education Hub at Mary Stevens Hospice will offer regular courses and training programmes for local healthcare professionals, teachers and care home workers to extend the expert training of the specialist Hospice across care providing facilities across the region.

Mike's most recent donations are the latest in a long-standing relationship with the Hospice, during which time he has given more than £150,000 to the charity, including the launch of a scheme which sees customers make donations to the charity instead of paying delivery fees on their beds, the purchase of vans, funding a business apprentice at the Hospice and contributing towards the creation of a "Peace Room" in the Hospice which offers a break-out area and quiet sanctuary for families and loved ones of patients. Mike Brown, Dreamland Bedding Centre owner, said:

“We've always operated with our community at the heart of everything we do, and the work done by the Hospice for local people impacts on so many of us in this area, in one way or another.

"I consider it a privilege to be in a position where I can give back and help, particularly so close to Christmas, and the difference that both the family apartment and the on-site training centre will make is something I am very proud to have helped to create.

"This is a cause very close to my heart and I look forward to continuing to raise more money and supporting the Hospice alongside our fantastic customers, who blow us away with their generosity and community spirit."

Charlotte Schofield, Head of Fundraising and Lottery, Mary Stevens Hospice Group said:

"The reality of our work is that we are seeing more and more young parents and families accessing our care, so by creating a living environment here on-site, we are ensuring that families, particularly families with school-age children, can stay together and maintain a sense of routine and normality during an often turbulent time.

"That is only possible because of Mike's generosity and we are truly privileged to receive the support of such a kind and compassionate man.”

Dreamland Bedding Centre was founded in 1976 and still operates out of its Mill Street headquarters in Brierley Hill, 40 years later. Mary Stevens Hospice provides palliative care to families battling the impact of life-limiting illnesses. To find out more about the work of the charity please visit marystevenshospice.co.uk.