HART Male Voice Choir used the Christmas period to the benefit of others as they presented a cheque for almost £1,500 to Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice.

Eamonn O’Rourke, chairman of the choir, was delighted to present a cheque for £1,340 to Gemma Craig of Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice, with the money raised by various events during the 2016 Christmas concert period.

Successful events included carols at Waitrose in Yateley, the British Legion Farnborough, and finally at the Farnham Maltings for the Hart MVC Christmas Festival.

The Christmas total bought the Hart Choir’s total figure raised for the hospice in 2016 to £4,400.

The money is a much-needed source of income for Phyllis Tuckwell which supports over 250 patients, relatives and carers in their own homes, in the community, at the hospice in Farnham and at the Beacon Centre in Guildford through a mix of medical and nursing care, therapies, counselling, social work advice and practical support.

The NHS/Government only covers 20 per cent of their costs, which means they have to raise over £20,000 a day to be able to offer all services, free of charge, to patients and their families.

It means the hospice relies heavily on the support and generosity of the local community and donations from fund-raising organisations such as Hart Male Voice Choir, who were thanked by Gemma Craig for the continued support of the choir over many years of fund-raising activities.