CHERIE BOOTH returned to her home town yesterday to help a Merseyside hospice for which she holds a personal affection.
The QC and wife of former Prime Minister Tony Blair was in Liverpool to give Jospice’s fundraising efforts a boost, as they strive to raise £1m for a vital extension.
And a week on from the release of her husband’s autobiography, she acknowledged the scenes of protest at its Dublin launch were not a complete surprise.
Cherie, from Waterloo, went to school with the Jospice’s fundraising manager, Pat Murphy, and is now a vice chair.
She told the Daily Post why the Crosby hospice is so important: “It is special in two ways, for personal reasons because it was founded when I was only eight, and I began fundraising for the charity when I was about 13, so it was always there when I was growing up. But it is also special because of the amazing palliative care provided.
“So many people want to die in their own homes, but for many not in this position, because of the intensive nature of the care they receive, the services offered by Jospice are vital, and for their families, too.
“The environment is so warm and homely.
“A huge community of people across Merseyside has been helped by the charity, it is so important.
“It is hard to believe I am here looking ahead to the charity’s 50th anniversary.”
She said despite difficult economic conditions, she believes the money can be raised: “It is a difficult time but this place was built on a widow’s mite, on small amounts.
“We need £345,000, the rest is covered by Government grants.
“It will mean so much, it will ensure four more beds, which could help 50 families in a year.
“At the moment we have to turn people away, which is terrible.”
A week on from the release of Blair’s book, A Journey, Cherie said she expected some negative reaction: “You obviously have to anticipate there will be some people who react . . . great men can inspire large emotions, but what is nice to see is how many people want to read the book and how, therefore, they will hear Tony’s voice and what he has to say, they can make up their own minds.” Cherie made her comments during a charity fundraising event at Liverpool’s Jury’s Inn.
She was joined by Helen Fessey, whose husband, Jim, died at the hospice last December, after suffering from a brain tumour.
The 53-year-old grandad-of-two, from Crosby, spent five weeks at Jospice, a time that Mrs Fessey said was very special.
She said: “It is a magical place, the care is fantastic for the patients and their families.
“It is peaceful and calm, the staff are wonderful.
“I really hope they raise this money, so more families can be helped like we were.
“Jim lives on in his daughter and grandchildren, and I have all the watercolours he painted which are wonderful to have.
“We said goodbye in the best way we could, and that means a lot.”
Ms Murphy said the jubilee anniversary was a great milestone, but added the charity needed to expand desperately: “We need to let people know our anniversary is 15 months away, and we have a £1m target to get to complete a substantial refurbishment of the hospice, so we are able to care for more local people.”
