The businessman who won the rights to name Bolton Wanderers football stadium after his company has donated a staggering £10,000 to save Bolton Hospice.
Dougie Mercer told The Bolton News he is a huge supporter of the hospice and it is up to the town to save the service, which 'does the town credit'.
The Bolton News launched its 'Save Bolton Hospice' campaign after it emerged the well-loved Chorley New Road site is running at a £1.2 million loss and could be forced to cut nearly a third of its beds.
The campaign is to help reduce the deficit and aims to raise an initial £100,000.
Dougie is the CEO of Toughsheet and as well as the donation, he has pledged a portion of his legacy in his will to Bolton Hospice and is encouraging businesses in Bolton to donate to save the important facility.
He said: “I love Bolton and I love the community and the Bolton Wanderers, and this is such a beautiful small hospice and does the town credit.
“With the funding crisis at the moment, it’s got to be down to local individuals and companies to keep it alive because if you come down to this place it’s so peaceful and relaxing, and it’s not morbid, it’s a pleasant place.
“I can’t think of anywhere nice for my final days.
“I have got it in my will to leave a legacy to Bolton Hospice.”
Dougie joked he hoped he would get the penthouse suite on his final day before talking about how important the hospice had been in his own life.
He said: “I have had a couple of family members that have passed away here, and it wasn’t a sombre thing, they came out of a main hospital, and this was a relaxing time for them, and it was comfortable.
“If you care for the community and for Bolton as a whole, you should donate.
“I have 83 employees and you can guarantee their family members have been here and God forbid it shut down due to lack of funds, we will all be upset and it cannot be allowed to happen.
“Bolton businesses all have employees and their families that may need Bolton Hospice one day.”
Dougie lost his wife Bernadette Mercer in 2017 to cancer and said he found it hard to help his then 17-year-old daughter, highlighting a service the hospice offers to help young people dealing with loss.
Chief Executive Dr Leigh Vallance said the donation made a ‘huge difference’ and was surprised to learn of Dougie’s legacy left in his will to the hospice.
She said: “My nurses, doctors and volunteers work incredibly hard and for them to know that it’s the Bolton people who are totally behind them, just lifts their spirits and helps them carry on.”
“It is a community resource, and we need the community and the businesses in our community to help support us.”
The donation will help the hospice continue to provide services like emotional support, pain and symptom management, maintain the workforce, and provide educational support to schools.
Editor of The Bolton News, Richard Duggan said: "We've been so overwhelmed by the donations made to the hospice directly and via the GoFundMe page since the launch of the campaign.
"This latest donation by Toughsheet takes us a step closer to our target of raising £100,000 for this beloved institution and we are so grateful for their generosity.
"If more businesses in Bolton dig deep and donate we'll be even closer to saving Bolton Hospice."
To donate to the campaign visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/Bolton-News-Bolton-Hospice-appeal
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