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Issue 3 2020 25 www.hae.org.uk www.eha.org.uk N iftylift has built a giant swan float to help raise awareness for Milton Keynes-based charity, Willen Hospice The float, created by Niftylift, took its maiden voyage recently, to mark the start of National Hospice Care Week and help raise awareness of Willen Hospice in Milton Keynes. Sam the Swan went on to tour Milton Keynes over recent months. Anyone who caught sight of him on his excursions, is encouraged to share any photos they took on social media, using the hasthtag #samtheswan. The entire project was managed by Niftylift Engineer Sam Thornton, who worked tirelessly on his feathered namesake in his spare time to have it ready for its maiden voyage. The finishing touches were added by local artist Angela Maher of Pencil Sketch Portraits, who gave Sam the Swan its face and other fine details. Sam the Swan will be touring Milton Keynes over the coming weeks and months, so keep an eye out and share any photos you take using #samtheswan. Willen Hospice was one of more than 200 charitable hospices across the UK taking part in Hospice Care Week in October, led by the national hospice and end of life care charity, Hospice UK. This year many charitable hospices like Willen are facing financial challenges, with the support they receive from the public being more important than ever before. Hospice UK estimates that since the COVID crisis began in March, collectively hospices have lost in the region of £70 million in fund-raised income. Willen, like many hospices in England, relies on 70% of its funding from public donations through charity shops and fundraisers, which has not been possible during the pandemic. << NIFTYLIFT CREATES ‘SAM THE SWAN’ FOR WILLEN HOSPICE