Simples the best!

Photo: Anthony Miller

Back at home . . . Alex the meerkat rests with hospice nurses Elaine Adams (left) and Pauline Marshall.

OLDHAMERS took Alex the meerkat into their hearts and on their holidays to raise a huge £12,000 for Dr Kershaw’s Hospice.

The furry creature has visited all corners of the globe with fun-loving Chronicle readers since the newspaper teamed up with Dr Kershaw’s Hospice to launch a summer of fun.

Alex started his travels at the end of June to combat the World Cup misery which descended on the town when England lost to Germany.

The idea caught the imagination of readers throughout Oldham, and he was packed into hundreds of suitcases and taken across the world to have his photograph taken at famous landmarks.

Alex partnered everyone from children to pensioners as they took their holidays, and visited everywhere from Australia and America, to Afghanistan and Argentina.

Brian Hurst, appeals manager at Dr Kershaw’s Hospice, said Alex had been an incredible ambassador for the charity, raising its profile as well as thousands of pounds to help keep the hospice running.

He said: “It’s been absolutely fantastic and it couldn’t have been done without the Chronicle and its readers.

“It snowballed out of all proportion, and while I expected we would sell around 500 meerkats, we had to keep ordering more as people asked to buy an Alex, and we have sold an incredible 2,700.

“We have sold five times as many as we thought and raised five times as much money, but as much as anything it’s the fun people have had taking him on holiday and the increased awareness of the hospice which has been wonderful.

“Now so many more people know how much we rely on their generosity and contributions to bring in more than £1 million a year — that’s £85,000 a month — to keep the hospice going.”

Alex’s exploits brought in enough to run the hospice for three days.

Brian added: “We always get great support from the people of Oldham, and from the Chronicle, but this is on the scale of something we have never seen before.

“I can only thank everyone who has joined in the spirit and helped to make it a great success.”

While it’s farewell to Alex on his travels for the Chronicle, the Royton hospice is expecting a legion of Alex’s cousins to arrive at the hospice in the middle of October.

They will be dressed in army uniform, and available for hospice supporters to buy as Christmas presents.

Brian still wants people to take Alex on holiday and send pictures to the hospice so he can keep track of his travels.

Photographs can be sent by post to the appeals office, Dr Kershaw’s Hospice, Turf Lane, Royton, Oldham, OL2 6EU or by email to appeals@drkershawshospice.org.uk  


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