Hospices in the south, including Rowans Hospice in Waterlooville, are to benefit from more than £32,000 thanks to a special fundraising campaign by Covers Timber & Builders Merchants.

The company, which has depots on Gunners Way, Gosport and Norway Road, Portsmouth, gave £5 for every purchase during its annual Help for Hospices charity week, which took place from 12th to 16th September, and donated a total of £32,155.

Covers’ chairman Rupert Green commented:

“Thank you to everyone who supported our Help for Hospices week this year and helped us to provide an incredible amount of money. It means that since we launched the initiative in 2015, our customers have helped us to raise more than £217,000 for hospices across the south east.

“Charities rely on donations and the money raised will help hospices continue to provide vital services to the communities they serve.”

Rowans Hospice provides dedicated palliative and end-of-life care to those living with a life-limiting illness in Portsmouth and South East Hampshire, either within its in-patient unit or in a home setting, as well as offering day visitor services in its Living Well Centre.

Among 10 other hospices being supported by Covers are St Wilfrid’s Hospice in Bosham, Naomi House & Jacksplace in Winchester and Mountbatten Hospice in Southampton.