Spireites CEO Supports Ashgate Hospicecare

Spireites Chief Executive, Chris Turner has shown his support for Ashgate Hospicecare by becoming a patron of the charity.

Chris said: “The hospice plays a very important role in the community and I am honoured to have been asked to become a patron.

“It costs £8.5m a year to run Ashgate Hospicecare and the organisation has to raise around £6.5m of that.

“We as a football club will do everything we can to help promote the hospice and make people aware of the need to help raise funds for such a worthwhile cause.”

Chesterfield FC Community Trust works closely with Ashgate Hospicecare and organises a matchday collection every season.

A new fundraising initiative organised by the hospice – The Sparkle Night Walk – will start and finish at the club’s Proact Stadium on Saturday, June 20.

Lucy Nickson, Chief Executive at Ashgate Hospicecare said: “Chris is well-known locally and will help us to raise awareness of how vital our charity is in providing care and support to people with any life-limiting illness.  We care for more than 2,000 patients every year and most of them are visited by us in their own home.

“The Day Hospice is one of the many services we have that enables people to stay at home by providing respite to carers and intensive medical support for the patient. It is also a great opportunity for patients to meet others who are going through a similar experience and have some fun.

“The patients really enjoyed meeting Chris and talking to him about their love of football. We are delighted that Chris accepted our invitation to become a patron.”

(Image shows chief executive of Ashgate Hospicecare Lucy Nickson with Chris Turner, chief executive of Chesterfield Football Club.)