A UNIQUE partnership between nine Worcestershire Rotary Clubs has raised a staggering £78,000 towards the new St Richard's Hospice.

About 200 members from the clubs in south west Worcestershire all backed the challenge to raise funds to pay for two relatives' suites in the new hospice which opens to patients and families in October.

They topped their initial £50,000 target, and with the help of the local Inner Wheel clubs, the Rotary team went on to raise £78,000.

The extra funds will go towards a day room for patients and visitors in the £5.25m hospice.

Gerald Canvin, of Pershore Rotary Club, was one of the instigators of the fund-raising project.

He said: "This is a unique example of clubs coming together to raise funds for a single project to benefit the whole local community.

"It was a considerable challenge but, by working as a team, we are absolutely delighted to be able to donate such a substantial sum to the hospice.

"The relatives' rooms will give families the opportunity to stay overnight close to their loved ones in comfortable and homely surroundings - something as a group we felt was important to support."

St Richard's hospice director of fund-raising Marilyn Peachey said: "This is a phenomenal amount of money to have raised in the last two years.

"So many people from the Rotary clubs and Inner Wheel have dedicated their efforts and enthusiasm to raise these funds.

"Patients, families, staff and volunteers would like to say a truly heartfelt thank-you to all of those who made it happen.

"Along with all our very other generous donations which made the New Hospice Appeal such a success, we have been able to build and equip our new hospice at Wildwood Drive to provide a haven for patients and their families."

The Rotary clubs involved in the partnership fund-raising were: Bredon Hill, Evesham, Malvern, Pershore, Upton upon Severn, Worcester, Worcester Severn, Worcester South, and Worcester Wychavon.

The four Inner Wheel clubs who also contributed were Worcester South, Evesham, Worcester Severn and Pershore.

The new St Richard's Hospice will include all the current free services for patients with cancer and other life threatening illnesses, plus specialist hospice beds which are desperately needed but not available in our area.

Fund-raisers need to generate the £2.8m which will be needed annually to provide the specialist care and support for patients and families.