AFTER receiving their latest set of figures, the Hospiscare Lottery is celebrating the news that it has now raised more than a million pounds after seven years. The Hospiscare Lottery was launched at the Devon County Show in 2000, when Hospiscare was chosen as its charity of the year. The number of players who enter each week, at the cost of a pound, has increased steadily over the seven years. Now there are more than 8,000 people playing the Hospiscare Lottery every week. Geoff Stamp, the lottery's manager since it began, said: 'We are delighted to have raised a million pounds for Hospiscare. Our players have helped support thousands of people since we launched. The loyalty of players has been amazing and numbers are growing all the time. Hospiscare's director of fundraising, Alison Palfrey, added: 'People play our lottery so they can help us support local families. It is just a pound a week and 65p or more goes to providing Hospiscare's services. 'There is always the added bonus of the chance to win a thousand pounds!' As well as the lottery, Hospiscare has almost 1,000 volunteers and 15 charity shops, including one in Okehampton. Hospiscare's work costs £3.8-million a year with less than a third funded through the National Health Service — the local community raises the rest. The lottery can be played for a week at a time or a year at a time; membership to the lottery can even be given as a Christmas present. For more information about the lottery or the work Hospiscare does phone 01392 688025, visit a Hospiscare shop or log on to http://www.hospiscare.co.uk">www.hospiscare.co.uk
