NBS Hands Up for Hospice 2024 appeal raises over $100,000

It takes a community to make a hospice happen, and the month of May has seen Nelsonians put their hands up to help raise over $100,000 for Nelson Tasman Hospice’s bi-annual appeal.

A grass-roots community campaign, the Hands up for Hospice appeal was championed by NBS and saw the people and businesses of Nelson Tasman join together in a mammoth effort to raise much-needed funds through everything from high teas to line dancing events!

The stand-out fundraising contribution came from the team at Olive Estate Lifestyle Village & Paragon Eatery, who raised an incredible $28,500 through a series of 18 events and initiatives across the month of May.

Kristin Nimmo, Managing Director of Olive Estate Lifestyle Village said the community had had the “time of their lives” fundraising for this worthy cause.

“The Nelson Tasman Hospice is such a key service within our region, and I think you’d be hard pressed to find anyone who has not had contact with them in one way or another.

What I could not have predicted was how much our Olive Estate and Paragon Eatery community would benefit from coming together to raise money for hospice. It has been

incredible to witness the unity in our small community strengthen along with new friendships being made, all while raising some $28,500 for a great cause!”

Another appeal highlight was the MoreFM Heave for Hospice event, which raised just under $18,000 in total and involved 18 teams battling it out for tug-of-war supremacy, including an NBS Nelson Giants vs. Tasman Mako face-off and Tasman District Council vs. their Nelson counterparts. Ultimately, Downer was the victor on the day.

The over $100,000 raised this past month will go right back into the community, and will help a local team of more than 45 clinicians support patients with life-limiting conditions. While the hospice provides free specialist palliative care to hundreds of patients and their families every year, a $3.5 million annual shortfall in funding means that the future of their services is not guaranteed.

Tony Gray, Chief Executive of Nelson Tasman Hospice said “Seeing hundreds of people share their support of Nelson Tasman Hospice with photos from fundraising events and video throw-downs challenging people to join the MediaWorks Heave for Hospice, demonstrated that when a community comes together for a good cause, anything is possible. It has been incredibly humbling for us as a service and we want to acknowledge and thank the many businesses, community groups, schools and individuals that backed us throughout May.

“The money raised will be used to help our doctors, nurses and allied health team of social workers and clinical psychologists provide specialist palliative care to people throughout the Nelson Tasman region.

Although the campaign has reached its fundraising goal and the appeal month has come to a close, people can donate to hospice year-round to help the service continue to do what they do for the community.