RORY HELPS RAISE £7,000 FOR HOSPICE AT HOME

Rory Stewart, MP for Penrith and The Border, on Friday 22nd helped to raise a staggering £7,000 for Carlisle and North Lakeland Hospice at Home, in an unusual ‘Meet the Artist’ event and auction at Netherby Hall, Longtown.

The MP presided over proceedings at the event, where five local artists had each donated a work of art each to be auctioned in aid of the charity.

Rory said: “I am always absolutely thrilled to support Hospice at Home, one of our finest Cumbrian charities of which we should all be very proud. Knowing Hospice at Home’s work, and its staff, has helped me in Parliament to fight for a better deal for our charities, resulting in last year’s win for a VAT exemption on the charity. But it is here in Cumbria that the really important hard work is done, by excellent people such as Moira Fisher who has as ever organised a brilliant event. I’d like to thank everyone who took part and helped raise such an incredible amount – in particular our hosts Margo and Gerald Smith; local sponsors Cochranes, Bessietown and Netherby Estate; and all the artists – Emma Tennant, Charles Ackerley, Charlie Dunn, Bea Hasell-McCosh, and Ashley Bloom.”

Rory pledged to continue supporting Cumbria’s hospice charities in Parliament: “I’ll do all I can as your re-elected Member of Parliament to ensure that Hospice at Home and charities like it continue to thrive in what is a time of flux in our health services, and ensure it is held up as a model for the rest of the country.”