AFTER completing a gruelling 10 kilometre run to raise money, a Crystal Palace councillor has donated £1,000 to St. Christopher’s Hospice.

Councillor Tom Papworth completed the annual Croydon race in 1 hour 2 minutes, and thanked residents for helping him raise the substantial sum.

He said: “St Christopher’s has sat at the heart of our local community for 44 years providing and promoting skilled and compassionate care for people in the last few weeks of their lives”.

The hospice in Lawrie Park Road, Sydenham, serves the boroughs of Bromley, Lewisham, Lambeth, Southwark and Croydon, and provides round the clock care to more than 2,000 patients a year.

It currently receives only a third of the £14 million it needs a year from the NHS and is reliant on donations for survival.

The money given by Cllr Papworth is enough to train three bereavement counselling volunteers.

The hospice’s senior fundraising manager, Paul Fennelly said: “We are so grateful to Tom and all our supporters who take part in active fundraising events for us and raise awareness."

For details of future fundraising activities, call 020 8768 4575 or e-mail e.sowden@st christophers.org.uk