BOURNEMOUTH’S Highcliff Marriott hotel has chosen Poole-based Lewis-Manning Hospice as its charity of the year.

General manager Andrew Francis said: “Many of our employees have been touched by cancer in some way and we hope that by supporting Lewis-Manning Hospice we will be able to give something back to the local community.”

Staff at the hotel on Bournemouth’s West Cliff have already raised £200 from a charity raffle and hope to donate a pound for every VIP fitness centre pass purchased.

They also hope to help in revamping the charity’s 10 hospice shops.

Sally Goodenough, Lewis-Manning’s Hospice Corporate and Legacies fundraider said: “We are delighted that the Marriott is supporting us.

“It couldn’t have come at a more exciting time as we celebrate our 20th anniversary.”

The charity still needs to raise £1.6million towards their Time to Care appeal which is raising funds for its new state of the art hospice which will open in the spring on Evening Hill, Lilliput. Lewis-Manning, which opened in 1992, offers free specialist palliative nursing care to around 650 people living with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses.

It takes its name from Marjorie Lewis-Manning a Poole businesswoman who left her house and its grounds to three trustees to pursue her dream of a day hospice being set-up there.

Its mission is: “To be the leading provider by choice in the provision of palliative care services, because the only time we have is now.”

Around one-third of its funding comes from NHS Bournemouth and Poole Primary Care Trust.

The remaining costs of £50,000 a month have to be met by fundraising.

The Time to Care Appeal is fundraising for a new purpose-built facility, due to open in the spring, with a bedded unit for emergency and planned respite.

Other funds come from campaigns, charity shops and donations.