Laura Bagshaw TWO local charities are to join forces to raise funds with the combined goal of making the end of life worth living. The Mia Lucy Rose Trust has announced it is to work alongside the Palliative Care East appeal to help net some of the £1.

Laura Bagshaw

TWO local charities are to join forces to raise funds with the combined goal of making the end of life worth living.

The Mia Lucy Rose Trust has announced it is to work alongside the Palliative Care East appeal to help net some of the £1.5m needed to build a dedicated palliative care centre in the grounds of the James Paget University Hospital.

The trust recently opened a coffee and gift shop at 175 High Street, Gorleston, where the partnership will be celebrated at a launch event on Friday, August 15.

Mia Lucy was travelling in East Asia when she was caught and carried away by a strong current while crossing the Mekong River in Laos. After her death the family set up a trust fund to provide Gorleston's cliff top trim trail and help other families searching for missing children abroad.

The trust wanted to raise money locally and decided to support the appeal which has already netted more than £600,000. The trust is planning to organise a ball in the area next year with money raised going to Palliative Care East.

Meanwhile, donations continue to pour in to the appeal. Mr and Mrs Durrant of Lowestoft presented a cheque to Kathy Nobes, palliative care team leader and Andrea Baxter-Pownall, palliative care nurse at the James Paget.

The money was raised from a ladies night held by Freemasons Lodge of Unity and was in memory of Mr Durrant's sister Susan Cullen and Mrs Durrant's sister Jean Baxter who died of cancer.

Forthcoming events being held in aid of the appeal are an 80s night in Bradwell tomorrow ; a night of entertainment including singing, dancing and horse racing at the Hamilton Hotel in Yarmouth on August 22; a talk by Yarmouth man Malcolm Metcalf about his travels across America on August 26; and Bond Showtime an antiques gala evening with cheese and wine at St Nicholas Church in Yarmouth.

For more information on the above events or to hold a fundraising event, contact Jenny Westgate on 01493 453348. Donations can be sent by post to the James Paget Healthcare NHS Trust Palliative Care Appeal, Palliative Care Team, Lowestoft Road, Gorleston, NR31 6LA. Cheques should be made payable to Palliative Care East.

wDonations can be made online at www.palliative-care-east.org.uk