A retired businessman and his wife have donated a car to the Hospice of the Good Shepherd.
Michael, who used to own a successful Ford dealership in Berkshire, and Valerie, his wife of almost 43 years, have donated Valerie’s Ford Fiesta to enable medical and clinical staff to collect vital blood supplies and equipment from the NHS Countess of Chester Hospital and pick up and drop off some of its patients.
Mr Harris said he chose to donate the car to the hospice as he was extremely grateful for the wonderful care and attention that his wife had received over the past six months, first as an in-patient and now as an out-patient at the day care centre.
Valerie, who worked as a hairdresser in the 60s for Peter Collinge, father to the equally well known Andrew Collinge, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer earlier this year, and has been receiving care and support from the hospice, enabling her to live at home in Chester.
Michael saw the hospice’s existing car parked in the driveway and was shocked with how old it was.
He said: “I was amazed that the hospice staff had to rely on such a clapped out old car and both Valerie and I immediately thought of donating her car which Valerie is no longer able to drive.
“It made perfect sense that the hospice would be able to use it to help them deliver such wonderful care to its patients and it was a pleasure to be able to make this sort of donation to such a worthwhile cause.”
The Hospice of the Good Shepherd undertook 117 blood transfusions at its base at Backford Hall in Chester last year, saving approximately 230 inpatient days within the Countess of Chester.
Chief executive Steve Hoy said, “The hospice provides vital support to the local Health Economy and we rely heavily on the generosity of the local community to keep our doors open. The car will provide enormous benefits to our medical and clinical team to ensure we can get hold of vital supplies quickly, we can’t thank Michael and Valerie enough.”
