Company kindness helps keep the wheels of local hospice care turning

Big-hearted Roger Young Suzuki

A premier southwest car dealership is continuing to go the extra mile in support of St Luke’s Hospice Plymouth.

With the hospice facing the challenge of delivering its specialist end-of-life care in an increasingly tough financial climate, big-hearted business Roger Young – which opened its Suzuki dealership in Saltash in 2024 – has stepped up to lease five smart new Suzuki vehicles to the charity at a specially discounted rate.

The fleet – which includes a four-wheel drive Vitara SZ5 – will help keep St Luke’s expert urgent care nurses on the road so that they can continue to look after patients at home, no matter how challenging the terrain to reach them.

St Luke’s Urgent Care Service

St Luke’s Urgent Care Service ensures high-quality, co-ordinated and compassionate support for terminally ill patients who need a high level of specialised care at home. This vital service runs seven days a week, not only covering Plymouth but extending into rural areas including Dartmoor and East Cornwall, with nurses frequently navigating rugged landscapes and steep inclines to reach the patients relying on their care at the toughest of times.

Equipping the hospice with vehicles its urgent care nurses can count on to transport them to and from patients’ homes safely and efficiently – even in the depths of winter – is a continuation of Roger Young’s support for the hospice. The relationship between the two organisations has grown since the dealership loaned St Luke’s a car for the initial pilot of its urgent care team’s East Cornwall service in 2023, and Roger Young staff also fundraise for the charity.

Thank you

Louisa Duggan, Head of Facilities at St Luke’s, said: “We are incredibly grateful to Roger Young and his Suzuki showroom for their continued support. As a charity, we couldn’t do without the backing we receive from local businesses like this who demonstrate the power of combining commerce with community spirit.

“Having the new vehicles as part of our fleet will help our urgent care nursing team reach more patients who desperately need the best specialist services at home so they can make the most of precious time with their loved ones.”

Mick Brockwell, Suzuki General Manager at Roger Young, said: “So many local families rely on St Luke’s, and some of them are known to us. It is a privilege to help make it that bit easier for the hospice to deliver the compassionate care for which it is renowned. We must never take this vital service for granted.”

If you are part of a local business keen to show your support for St Luke’s, find out more about the difference you can make for your community here.

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