2012 is a Leap Year and this means that St Mary’s has to find an extra days running costs. The additional day at the end of February will cost the charity an extra £6000 to run all of the services it provides. To help St Mary’s raise this extra funding the charity is asking all local people to donate small change and pennies on the 29th February in their Penny Pinching Challenge.

St Mary’s will distribute Penny Pinching boxes upon request during February and all you have to do is fill them! It is really simple and hopefully as many people as possible will come forward to help.

The Penny Pinching Challenge is a great event for schools to take part in. Schools can distribute our small Penny Pinching boxes to their pupils, and at the end of the Penny Pinching Challenge the children return the boxes to the school. At the end of the challenge period the hospice collects the returned boxes and our volunteers count the monies received. All participating schools will receive a certificate.

Alternatively, local people may wish to organise a small event or coffee morning on that date and place all funds into the challenge box provided.

To take part in any part of the Penny Pinching Challenge please call Lorraine, St Mary’s Hospice Fundraising Team on 01229 580305 or email events@stmaryshospice.org.uk