UPDATE FROM JOHN DAVIES:

Dear All,

I write to update and to thank. It was a very interesting day, although a background of theatre, it made me reflect on a lot of things. How staff and their next of Kin can give up their personal holiday to support a crazy idea, how the Dorothy House Staff continue to support the cause with £10.00 here and £10.00 there, how hard it is to raise money for a charity – making the call and trying to be polite yet direct. The immense kindness and politeness of everyone – called out of the blue, last touch point ten years ago, a supplier with seeming no choice, yet everyone I spoke to or e-mailed were incredibly courteous, friendly and kind. I have not received one ill e-mail or text and monies continue to come in. I am extremely touched and Dorothy House is very grateful for your support.

You do need to know that your gift provides the most inspirational care you can think of. I have just signed a will of a patient, peacefully looking out of a French window - across to Salisbury Plain, with the Spring Sun pouring through the window, the patient was very happy, snug in bed, a key task complete, the family secure. And your gift enables us to do this for a wide range of patients and their families, free and for as long as it takes and where it is needed at home or here at Winsley. You enable end of life care to be an experience where the patient and their families are allowed to be cared for, are allowed to have peace and laughter and to retain hope and life to the end, I wish I could take you all around you would be inspired.

So thank you – please be assured that your monies is spent wisely, is subject to due diligence and governance and goes on patient care not on the payment of vast salaries or expense accounts. We publish our accounts and we are happy to be challenged. Prue Dufore set up Dorothy House 40 years ago this year; She would be impressed by her legacy we now need to drive it forward for another 40 years - thank you for your investment and kindness.

John Davies

ORIGINAL STORY:

Dorothy House Chief Executive, John Davies, will be sent to the Trowbridge lock-up, called the Blindhouse, on 1 March 2016. He has been challenged with fundraising his way out of prison.

Unlike the drunks and troublemakers condemned to the Blindhouse in days of old, John will voluntarily be imprisoned within the dank walls of his austere cell. Having access to only his mobile phone, he will work hard to guarantee his release by securing fundraising pledges of £5,000 to be release by nightfall.

John’s arrest will take place at the Trowbridge Dorothy House Hospice Care Outreach Centre at 8.30am on March 1st. He will then be escorted to the Blindhouse where he will be incarcerated. Food will be passed through the hatch during meal times, helping him to keep up his strength as he works tirelessly through the day to raise funds for the Hospice. Twitter tally updates will be tweeted throughout the day so you can monitor his road to release.

As night falls, the Blindhouse becomes an unwelcoming place devoid of light or warmth. Even with John’s military training, please help ensure that he doesn’t have to face the damp, the rats and the memories of bygone villains.

John is depending on you – the public – to help him secure his release. Please donate on this page, text BOSS40 £5 to 70070, send a donation in advance by post Dorothy House Hospice Care, Winsley, Bradford on Avon BA15 2LE or call our fundraising team on 01225 721 480.

Your local hospice needs you! Help John to raise funds so that Dorothy House Hospice Care can provide more care and support to patients, their families and carers when it matters most. (#whenitmattersmost)

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity. So it’s the most efficient way to donate – saving time and cutting costs for the charity.