Keech Hospice Care checks-in for airport charity partnership

London Luton Airport (LLA) has announced Keech Hospice Care as its new charity partner for 2016 and 2017.

The two-year partnership aims to raise a total of more than £50,000 to help Keech deliver much needed hospice care to both children and adults across Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Milton Keynes.

Keech was chosen following a public vote in which they received the support of more than 12,000 people, including jazz-pop singer and songwriter Jamie Cullum, McBusted’s Harry Judd, golfer Ian Poulter and chef Marco Pierre White.

Airport staff are already planning world record attempts, pop-up stores in the terminal and even a fire walk to meet the ambitious target.

Neil Thompson, Operations Director at London Luton Airport, said “We’re delighted to be supporting Keech to provide care to adults, children and their families. Keech is a fantastic local charity and our staff are excited that the public chose to make it their winner.

“The two-year partnership will coincide with one of the most exciting periods for the airport as we are spending £110 million to transform the airport and expand capacity. The partnership with Keech is just one of the ways in which we are working to make sure that LLA’s growth benefits the whole of the local community.”

Liz Searle, Acting CEO of Keech Hospice Care, said “We're thrilled and thank everyone who got behind us and voted. Keech needs £14,000 a day to keep the hospice running and continue the great work it does for the community. We rely on local support and donations for 70 percent of our funding.

“As leaders in our field, we want to be able to offer people the care they need, when they need it, where they need it and how they want it. More and more of our patients are telling us they want to be able to stay at home with their loved ones for as long as possible. That means we need more nurses, therapists and transport to enable people to do this. Our new partnership with London Luton Airport will allow us to give patients and their families the support they need.”

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For further information about this release please contact: pressoffice@ltn.aero

Keech Hospice Care - Lorna Milton, Senior PR Officer, 01582 497874 lmilton@keech.org.uk

Keech Hospice Care believes no one should have to face a life-limiting or terminal illness alone. It provides free specialist care care for children from Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Milton Keynes and adults from Luton and South Bedfordshire with progressive, life-limiting conditions from diagnosis up until the end of their life. Keech’s care extends to the entire family offering emotional, spiritual and practical support. For these families, when it seems as though nothing will be the same again, Keech is there to help. The care is not just provided at the hospice. It can also be provided in the hospital, school, care or family home – wherever support is needed most. Keech’s care does not stop at death. They continue to support families for as long as they needed afterwards.