TEIGNMOUTH businesses are coming together to support Rowcroft Hospice Awareness Week. Spirit of Teignmouth skipper Simon Chalk has donned a blue ribbon, and also pinned one on the 68ft trimaran, for the fundraising week which starts on Monday. A number of shops in The Triangle will also be supporting the charity with a donation of 50 per cent of their profits on Friday, May 19. Shops including Celeste, Hub, Turn of the Tide, The Fountain for Health and Body and Soul are hoping the spring fair will encourage shoppers to come to Teignmouth and support a worthy cause. The fair from 3pm-8pm will include outdoor stalls, 15-minute taster sessions in Indian head massage, seated acupressure, reflexology, chiropractic and Reiki and belly dancers. The entertainment will go on into the evening, and a number of cafes will be staying late and supporting the spring fair. Rachael Bryett, Rowcroft's fundraising manager, said: 'We are very grateful to the shops in Teignmouth for nominating Rowcroft to be the beneficiary of funds raised from their Spring Fair. 'Rowcroft Hospice needs to raise more than £3 million each year in order to provide its services to terminally ill people in south Devon. We hope as many people as possible will come along to the Fair, and help support their local hospice'. Rowcroft Hospice is tying South Devon up in blue ribbons to mark the first Rowcroft Ribbon Week. Rowcroft Ribbon Week will include town centre roadshows, schools tour, ribbon wearing and Wear Blue Day. Hannah Simmons, community fundraising manager, said: 'There are a number of ways that people can support Rowcroft Ribbon Week, businesses could take a box of ribbons, offices and schools could hold a wear blue day or anyone could hold a blue themed event.' Rowcroft Hospice has an 18-bed in-patient unit, a day hospice, a lymphoedema clinic, a community team and a bereavement service. Staff for these services includes doctors, nurses, social workers, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, a chaplain, complementary therapists, a music therapist, craft workers, specialist care nurses and a large team of administrators, estates staff, housekeepers and chefs. More than 1,000 terminally-ill people in south Devon are cared for at Rowcroft Hospice. The hospice has to raise £3 million a year from voluntary contributions. Anyone who would like to show their support can contact Hannah Simmons on 01803 217628.
