A HOSPICE has hailed a huge donation from a Furness business as 'vital' to their services.

Furness Building Society has donated over £73,000 to St Mary’s Hospice this year through their Affinity Account. The Ulverston-based building society makes an annual payment to St Mary's from its own funds - not the savers' money - which is based on the total balances in the accounts; so the more supporters save, the bigger the payment to St Mary’s Hospice. St Mary’s Hospice has provided care and support to those facing life shortening conditions and those that love them in South Cumbria for over 30 years.

They pride themselves on making a difference when it matters most. Accepting that while they can’t change the outcome, they can change the journey for their patients and their families especially in these unprecedented times. Sarah Wane, marketing communications manager for Furness Building Society, said: “We’re over the moon to be have been able to continue to support St Mary’s hospice through such challenging times.

"Our local hospice is so very important to our community and therefore important to us too.

"At Furness, we’re in the people business, helping our customers become financially secure and to buy their dream homes but we’re also grateful that we can play a part in helping in times when they need the services that St Mary’s offer.” St Mary’s Hospice area fundraiser, Becky Brown explained that the donation from the Furness Building Society is a vital source of income, helping them to meet the £3.5 million which must be raised each year to fund the Hospice, of which only 17 per cent is funded by the NHS. Becky, area fundraiser for St Mary's Hospice, said: "The fantastic aspect of the St Mary’s Hospice affinity account offered by the Furness Building Society is that it costs the supporters nothing, simply by saving in the account they are helping to generate a huge annual donation for St Mary’s Hospice.

"Thank you to every single individual who has opened the St Mary’s Hospice Charity Savings Affinity Account and helped to contribute to such an amazing figure, and thank you to Furness Building Society for their continued support with this fantastic account.” If you are interested in supporting St Mary's through this account, you can:

• Call in at your local branch or agency • Call them on: 0800 83 43 12