Mary Stevens Hospice in Stourbridge has raised almost £50,000 from its annual Candy Cane Christmas Draw – which will continue to provide vital care for families in the Dudley Borough.

Since opening in October, sacks full of mail have been arriving in the Lottery Office, leading to weeks and weeks of tireless processing to ensure that every single person was entered into the draw before the draw on Tuesday 6th December.

An enormous 49,554 tickets were bought for the draw for £1 each, which is an increase of 4,766 on the 2015 draw. Diane Moore, Lottery & Promotions Manager says:

“In these difficult and uncertain financial times we really are grateful to our incredible supporters for digging deep yet again to support their local charity.

“For 25 years, Mary Stevens Hospice has provided free specialist care for its patients and valuable support for their families and carers and this has only been possible because of the generosity of our supporters.”

“The staggering amount they have helped us to achieve by taking part in the Candy Cane Christmas Draw will ensure the Hospice continues to make a real difference to the lives of its patients and their families at what are difficult times in all their lives.”

“I would like to congratulate our £5,000 jackpot winner from Quarry Bank and the £1,000 runner-up winner who lives in Halesowen and just such a huge thank you to everybody who took the time to donate and enter the draw. Each and every person who entered made it such an amazing success.”

To take part in the Hospice's weekly £2,000 jackpot lottery, please contact Diane Moore on diane@mshfundraising.co.uk or call 01384 860 011. To find out more about the work of the Mary Stevens Hospice, please visit marystevenshospice.co.uk.