A CHARITY based in Newport has received £1,536.36 from a car dealership in the city.

The funds were raised for St David’s Hospice Care by staff and customers at Wessex Garages at Newport Retail Park throughout 2013.

Kris Broome, director of Fundraising & Lottery at St David’s Hospice Care, said: “At the start of 2013 Wessex Garages chose us as its Charity of the Year. We would like say a huge ‘thank you’ to everyone at the dealership and the general public who helped raise such a fantastic amount during the past year.

“The support Wessex Garages has given us during 2013 has been very much appreciated. We are delighted that they will continue to support us throughout 2014.

“The money raised by the car dealership will help us to keep providing all our support services for people in need of our help as well as helping to fund our Day Hospices on Blackett Avenue in Newport, Panteg Hospital near Pontypool, Ystrad Mynach Hospital in Ystrad Mynach and Usk House in Brecon.”

St David’s Hospice Care has been providing community-based hospice care for people with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses, and their families, since 1979.

Its care is provided to people living within Caerphilly, Monmouthshire, Newport, Torfaen and within certain areas of South and Mid Powys.

At any one time St David’s Hospice Care looks after more than 1,100 patients and during 2012 it cared for a total of 3,204 patients and their families.

Paul Edwards, general manager at Wessex Garages, said: “Throughout 2013 staff at the dealership organised and took part in various activities to raise money for St David’s Hospice Care.

“These included a challenge to spend 24 hours in a car, bungee jumping, a onesie walk over the Severn Bridge, Newport Half Marathon, walking over the Newport Transporter Bridge, coffee mornings, competitions, fancy dress days and clothes donations.

“St David’s Hospice Care does crucial work in the area and we are really pleased to have helped raise £1,536.36 for the charity. We have decided to continue our relationship with them and they will be our chosen Charity of the Year for 2014. We hope to raise even more money for them this year so they can continue their valuable work.”