Wessex Heartbeat is offering people the chance to support local cardiac services and win cash prizes by taking part in its new, weekly lottery draw.
The Southampton based charity has teamed up with make a smile lottery as part of its continuing mission to support patients treated at the Wessex Cardiac Centre at Southampton General Hospital.
John Munro, CEO of Wessex Heartbeat, said: “We are very excited to launch our new weekly lottery draw in this, our 25th anniversary year.
“It’s a great way for people support our work while having the chance of winning some great cash prizes.”
Wessex Heartbeat was set up in 1992 and has since raised over £16million for the Wessex Cardiac Centre, funding projects including the Young Adult Cardiac Centre and a £1 million refurbishment of the children’s ward at Southampton Hospital.
In 2016 the charity also celebrated 21 years of offering free, home-from-home accommodation at Heartbeat House for patients’ relatives.
John Munro continued: “From their very first entry into the make a smile lottery draw members will be helping Wessex Heartbeat support the 40,000 patients a year who use the cardiac centre.
“Our target is to raise £130,000 through the lottery in the next five years, which will help to fund the latest specialist equipment, research and major facilities for patients, relatives and staff.”
For just £1 per entry to the draw each week, lottery members have the chance to win one of 16 guaranteed weekly prizes, including a top prize of £250 and a further 15 £10 prizes. There will also be a rollover jackpot of £200 which if not won increases by £200 each week up to a maximum of £10,000. The prize fund will be reviewed regularly and as more people join the draw, the prizes will increase.
Make a smile lottery is a new lottery venture owned and run by St Helena Hospice.
The Colchester based charity already runs the successful Your Hospice Lottery which has raised in excess of £8 million for nine other hospices since 2001.
Building on the success of this existing model, the lottery team at St Helena is branching out into supporting local charities like Wessex Heartbeat through its new make a smile lottery.
Alex Howe, Head of Lottery at make a smile lottery, said: “We are delighted to be supporting Wessex Heartbeat with our brand new lottery draw. We have 16 years’ experience of running a successful lottery operation for hospices nationally and are extremely blessed to have the opportunity to expand and work with other amazing charities.”
Fundraisers from the lottery team will be working across the region to promote Wessex Heartbeat’s lottery.
All fundraisers carry photo ID but their identity can be verified by calling the lottery office on: 0300 303 4500.
Supporters can either join up with one of the fundraisers or online by visiting: www.makeasmilelottery.org.uk or calling: 0300 303 4500
Members can join from now. The first lottery draw will be held on Friday 13th October.
Picture caption: staff from Wessex Heartbeat and make a smile lottery launch the new lottery which will raise funds for the cardiac centre at Southampton General Hospital
For further press information contact: Debbie Granville at Deep South Media on: 07884 657782 or email: Debbie.granville@deepsouthmedia.co.uk
Staff from Wessex Heartbeat and make a smile lottery launch the new lottery which will raise funds for the cardiac centre at Southampton General Hospital
