A garage is driving up donations for St Ann’s Hospice with its latest fundraising initiative.

BI Appleton in Heald Green is donating £5 from every MOT it carries out in July and August to the charity.

General Manager Phil Evans said: “We have decided to donate to St Ann’s because we can see what a great charity they are. The work they do for the local community and nearby communities is breathtaking.

“The team works every second of every day to help the lives of so many people that need to be loved and cared for.

“One day, a loved one may need to go to a hospice, so if we can help out St Ann’s with our special MOT offer, then we will sleep easy knowing we are donating to a wonderful charity.”

In 1939, Basil Appleton opened a repair garage and petrol station, and the business has continued to grow over the decades, still providing repairs and other services for local people from its Styal Road base.

Phil added: “Old businesses are dying off but we are growing, just like St Ann’s Hospice.

“We are only a few minutes away from their Heald Green hospice, and have been maintaining their vehicles for many years now so have built a solid relationship.”

St Ann’s Hospice cares for people from across Greater Manchester from its three sites in Heald Green, Little Hulton and at The Neil Cliffe Centre in Wythenshawe Hospital, as well as via a range of community and outreach services.

St Ann’s is a charity, and receives around a third of its funding from the NHS with the rest – around £20,000 a day – fundraised thanks to the kind support of its donors.

Hospice Chief Executive Eamonn O’Neal said: “Our local community is so important to the hospice, and we’re incredibly appreciative of all the support BI Appleton give us.

“We rely on donations from businesses like theirs, as well as individuals, to ensure we can continue providing the specialist care our patients need.  Huge thanks to the team there for thinking of the hospice and supporting our patients in this way.”