Sue Ryder hospice salutes Captain Tom Moore for big stamp giveaway
A Bedfordshire hospice has given a hero’s salute to Captain Tom Moore after thousands of stamps from his 100th birthday card collection were donated to raise vital funds.
The war veteran received hundreds of thousands of birthday cards on his big day last month, after raising almost £33m for NHS charities during the coronavirus crisis. He was also appointed an honorary Colonel.
Many of his birthday cards were opened by staff, pupils and parents at Bedford School, where Captain Tom’s grandson is currently taught.
The stamps from the cards were saved and have been donated to charitable causes, including half of them to Sue Ryder St John’s Hospice.
The hospice, located in Moggerhanger near Bedford, cares for local people with life-limiting conditions, as well as supporting their families.
A team of hospice volunteers has sprung into action to process the donation; carefully cutting out the stamps from the envelopes.
The stamps will then raise vital funds for the hospice, for example by being sold to stamp collectors.
Tori Ablard, Head of Hospice Fundraising at Sue Ryder St John’s Hospice, said: “Thank you so much to Captain Tom Moore and Bedford School for this fantastic donation. It is the gift that keeps on giving; not only did Captain Moore raise a phenomenal amount of money for NHS charities, but this donation of 100th birthday card stamps will also raise vital funds for our hospice.
“The funds raised will ensure we can continue to offer our expert palliative care and be there when it matters for people at the most difficult time of their lives. Thank you also to our team of hospice volunteers who are working hard to process the stamps.”
Susie Spyropoulos, Head of Charities at Bedford School, said: “We wanted to donate the stamps to charitable causes so that even more good can come from Captain Tom’s amazing campaign. Many members of our school community have links to the excellent work of Sue Ryder St John’s Hospice. We hope this donation will help to care for local people.”
You can find out more about Sue Ryder St John’s Hospice at www.sueryder.org/stjohns
