A LOCAL car dealership based in Ottershaw has pledged three more years of support to Woking & Sam Beare Hospices.

Trident Honda’s timely pledge will help fill the charities’ coffers with some of the £3.4 million left to find to pay for the new centre in Goldsworth Park – opening next year – as well as renovations at its Weybridge site.

Managing Director Richard Roberts and his team welcomed the charities’ Director of Fundraising, Louise Morris, and Hospice Founder, Rhod Lofting, to the company’s offices late last month to discuss how both parties could benefit from the deal.

Mr Roberts said: “The hospices are such an important part of our community and, as a business trading in and around Woking and Weybridge for 53 years, we see the vital part it plays in our community.

“The new build programme is essential if the hospices are to deliver the long-term care we all need, so I feel that businesses in the community must step up to help raise funds.

“We have personally seen the support, care and respect the service brings to people at a time when it is needed most, and we firmly believe it is an essential part of our community that must be paid for.”

Meanwhile, Ms Morris exp-lained her delight, and that of her colleagues, at the announcement.

She said: “We are excited to embark on this new phase of partnering with Trident Honda, who have now supported the hospices for 20 years. Support such as this is invaluable. It’s only with these kind of partnerships that we can continue to give our exceptional care to patients and their families across Surrey, in people’s homes as well as in our own facilities.

“The new partnership with the charity comes at a crucial time, as we have embarked upon our New Build Appeal to raise £3.4m to build new, modern homes for our hospice care, while still delivering care 24/7, free of charge, at a cost of £8 million each year.

“A commitment such as this enables the charity to plan ahead for the future and offer the very best care for years to come.”