Communities in Ipswich, Lowestoft, Felixstowe and more help raise over £128,000 for St Elizabeth Hospice through its Be A Star campaign

A hospice has thanked communities across east Suffolk for helping it raise at least £128,000 over the course of its Christmas campaign.

Festive remembrance events, a fund-raising week where donations were matched by local businesses, and the famous Christmas Day dip all helped chip into St Elizabeth Hospice's Be A Star fund.

Charity officials thanked the people of Ipswich, Felixstowe, Lowestoft, among others, who helped shatter last year's total

Donations from the campaign are still pouring in, but have already exceeded the £100,000 raised in 2021.

The 2022 Matched Giving Week – the event where businesses matched every £1 given – raised £27,000 alone, the charity said.

Local schools and youth groups, and the work of individual fund-raisers, also helped reach the target.

This includes Bildeston Primary School, near Hadleigh, that raised £745 through a Christmas jumper day, and designing jumpers for the hospice's mascot.

During a typical Christmas period, the charity said it will look after 1,150 people with life-changing illnesses.

Pauline Donkin from St Elizabeth Hospice said: “A big thank you to everyone who supported our appeal this year, with the current, difficult economic climate, we really appreciate people generously donating towards the hospice.

“Whether you took part in our Christmas Day dip, made a donation, purchased an item from one of our shops, or your business supported the appeal, you played a role and made a difference to how we run this festive period."