A West Cumbrian charity is celebrating a windfall from the People’s Postcode Lottery, which will go to fund a therapist.

Hospice at Home West Cumbria has received £14,428 from the Postcode Community Trust - the grant-giving charity funded entirely from money raised by players of the game.

A spokesman for the Hospice at Home West Cumbria said: “The generous grant will help fund community-based complementary therapies across our region given by our senior complementary therapist, Claire Jenkinson.”

Claire is a highly experienced therapist who has been with the charity for seven years and has recently been awarded the diploma in adapting complementary therapies for cancer and supportive care from The Christie in Manchester.

Claire said: “We are so grateful for this wonderful grant to support our complementary therapy work, which are an essential aspect of our services.

“It really will make such a difference to the people we care for.

“Specialist complementary therapies can help patients cope with some of the physical symptoms and side effects that they may face such as pain, nausea, fatigue and breathlessness, as well as alleviating anxiety and tension, promoting improved sleep and ability to cope.”

Her work involves travelling across West Cumbria and visiting palliative patients in their homes, nursing homes and the Loweswater Suite at West Cumberland Hospital, as part of the family and bereavement support team.

Last year the organisation’s therapists gave 569 treatments to people in West Cumbria with a life limiting condition and their loved ones.

It is the only hospice in the region and the only charity providing palliative and end of life home nursing care.