Throughout the festive period and into the New Year, the Hospice led a jam-packed schedule of events. Highlights included the Jingle Bell Jog, where more than 500 participants donned Santa suits to complete a 2km fun run in Kings Heath Park, beating last year’s numbers by 100 runners.

The results didn’t stop at the finish line. Flocks of volunteers, local businesses and Hospice staff collected more than 1,700 Christmas trees for recycling into compost, mulch or bio-mass fuel, from homes across Birmingham and Solihull in January for Treecycling, raising over £23,000 of vital funds.

Also part of this year’s campaign was Light up a Life, supported by the BBC’s Llewela Bailey, an evening that saw families and loved ones come together for music and fireworks in remembrance. This special commemorative event was attended by over 1,000 people, raising £65,000.

Hamish Shilliday, Head of Fundraising at Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice, said: “The ongoing care and support we have received from people across Birmingham and the West Midlands has been exceptional, and has allowed our Care at Christmas campaign to be the biggest one yet.

“Every aspect of the campaign has seen record figures and we hope to keep on building on this success in future years so that we can continue to reach every family that needs our care. From everyone at Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice, we thank you for your outstanding support.”

It costs around £8million a year to run the Hospice and the funds raised are vital to allow the staff at Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice to carry on giving care and support to individuals and their families at the Hospice, in people’s homes and in the community.