The Butterwick Hospice has received a £750 donation from local bus operator, Stagecoach North East.

The money was raised by the staff at the Teesside depot through a season-long raffle to win tickets to watch Middlesbrough FC play at the Riverside Stadium. 

Last year, Stagecoach North East purchased two season tickets to be used to raise money for the Hospice after Eddie Porter, the operations manager in Teesside asked for an incentive to create a long term fund raising activity. The raffle ran the course of the season and every time ‘the Boro’ played at home there were two tickets up for grabs.

Tickets were priced at £1 and everyone at the depot participated, even those who support rival teams Sunderland and Newcastle. On those occasions when a non ‘Boro’ fan won, the tickets were auctioned to raise more money for the charity.

This is the second donation this year from the local bus operator as the Hospice was presented with a cheque for over £9,000 in January following fund raising over the Christmas period.

John Conroy, Managing Director at Stagecoach North East says: “We were happy to support the initiative devised by the operations manager, Eddie Porter, at the depot. The money raised is testament to the commitment of all the staff in Teesside to support such a worthy cause. We are very proud of the continued efforts of all involved to help the Hospice.”

Diane Williams, Fundraising Manager at Butterwick hospice adds: “Eddie and all the staff have supported our charity for many years now and have raised a significant amount of valuable funds. This latest donation is welcomed and will be put to great use. We’d like to thank Stagecoach North East for helping us to help others.”

The depot will continue to raise money for the Butterwick Hospice throughout the year through a series of social events and sponsored activities.