A YORK-BASED supermarket chain has donated £20,000 to York’s St Leonard’s Hospice.

Costcutter Supermarkets, which has its headquarters in Dunnington, helped create the charity Making A Difference – Locally (MADL).

The £20,000 donation, which was presented to the hospice by Costcutter’s managing director, Nick Ivel, is part of a nationwide initiative by MADL, which this month will see £400,000 donated to 20 hospices around the UK, as well as other donations to charities and good causes benefiting local communities within the UK.

Janet Morley, director of fundraising at the hospice, said: “This is a fantastic donation from our friends at Costcutter, who have generously supported us in the past, too.”

Mr Ivel said: “Hospices such as this provide an invaluable service to those most in need, as well as their families, so it’s great to be able to recognise such a deserving charity with this donation.”

Meanwhile, Julian Sturdy, MP for the York Outer constituency, visited the Tadcaster Road hospice to meet patients and carers, staff and volunteers to find out first-hand about the range of care it provides and how it is supported.

Mr Sturdy met the hospice’s chief executive, Martyn Callaghan, to discuss services, future plans, Government changes to healthcare provision and the funding issues that hospices face. St Leonard’s is celebrating its silver jubilee this year and Mr Sturdy visited the hospice’s in-patient and day care facilities and meet the staff who provide Hospice@Home to patients in their own homes. Mr Sturdy said: “Countless local residents will have had direct experience of working with the hospice and the continued support of the community is vital to the hospice’s future success and ability to serve York and the surrounding area.”