Volunteers at three Cumbrian hospices have been given bouquets to thank them for supporting the charities’ vital work.

The bouquets were presented to volunteers at Hospice at Home West Cumbria, Hospice at Home Carlisle and North Lakeland and Eden Valley Hospice, all courtesy of The Cumberland building society.

The floral thank you follows a donation of £14,787 to each hospice from The Cumberland on behalf of its Affinity Account savers.

Hospice at Home West Cumbria currently has 186 volunteers across the organisation, involved in activities including family and bereavement support, complementary therapy and activities such as fundraising, working in its shops and driving patients to appointments.

One of the volunteers to receive a bouquet was Dr Brian Herd, a local GP, and one of the founding members of the charity which was established in 1986.

He is the organisation’s longest-serving volunteer.

Brian said: “I have been involved with Hospice at Home West Cumbria for 36 years and am proud to have supported the organisation through its inception and growth.

“We should never underestimate the importance of volunteering both for the organisation and for the individual.

“I have met many dedicated people throughout my years of volunteering and would encourage anyone to get in touch and enquire about volunteering with Hospice at Home West Cumbria.

“I am proud to represent our many volunteers and thank The Cumberland for their continued support.”

Nicola Irving, who volunteers for Hospice at Home Carlisle and North Lakeland, also picked up a bouquet.

The hospice cared for Nicola’s husband Paul in his final days and she now helps out by organising events and helping on reception.

“Hospice at home provides an essential service in our community,” said Nicola.

“Their support meant Paul, my husband, could stay at home for as long as possible before he died.

“They helped Paul, me and our children when no one else could.

“I volunteer to try to repay that help and support and so other people in an impossible position can benefit too.”

Each year The Cumberland donates an amount equivalent to one per cent of the average total balances of all its Affinity Accounts to the hospices.

Phillip Ward, brand manager at The Cumberland, said the donation was a natural extension of its ‘Kinder Banking’ initiative, which it launched this year.

To find out more about the affinity account, visit https://www.cumberland.co.uk/savings/support.

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