Leicester City legend Alan ‘The Birch’ Birchenall treats LOROS staff and patients to a visit from the Premier League Trophy as the Hospice mark their official start of £6 million extension.
The Birch, who is also a Patron of the Groby Road Hospice gave dozens of people the once in a lifetime opportunity to have a photo with the trophy today (Monday 3rd October) before making the first dig of LOROS’ two-year site development.
Both events came at the start of this year’s Hospice Care Week, a national campaign which aims to showcase the services at hospices nationwide.
The Birch said: “It was an honour to spend such an amazing morning at LOROS, giving staff, volunteers, families and patients the chance to have a photo with the Premier League trophy.”
Dozens of patients, families, volunteers and staff members gathered in the social area of the Hospice, waiting for their chance to have a photo with the trophy.
“I’m a very proud Patron of LOROS and this was my way of saying a big thank you, from me and Leicester City Football Club, to everyone at the Hospice for all they do,” The Birch added. At 11am, The Birch and LOROS CEO John Knight marked the start of the Hospice’s exciting expansion, with an official turf cutting ceremony.
The extension will be taking place over the next two years and includes two phases, one of which will see the creation of a brand new Professional Development Centre.
The second phase of the project will see the extension of the Hospice’s Day Therapy Unit, allowing around 250 more patients to benefit for the services every year.
“This is an extremely exciting time for LOROS and it’s brilliant that we have finally been able to mark the start of the extension,” said LOROS CEO John Knight.
“What a lovely morning we had. It was great to see so many members of staff coming together to mark the occasion and of course, as always, it was brilliant to welcome our Patron Alan Birchenall to LOROS for the event too.
“It’s amazing to think that The Birch was here, at LOROS, 31 years ago when the very first brick was laid; what an honour it was for us to have him join us for today’s extension more than three decades later.
“Of course, we can’t thank him enough for bringing the Premier League trophy with him; everyone at LOROS is extremely grateful for his continued support.”
LOROS has got plenty planned this week to help celebrate Hospice Care Week, including their very first family friendly Open Day, ‘Love Leicester, Love LOROS’, which will be taking place on Saturday from 10am until 4pm.
For more information on the Open Day, or to find out how you can support LOROS this week, visit loros.co.uk/HCW
