FOUR sisters' fundraising efforts in memory of their dad have provided a host of equipment for the St Elizabeth Hospice after raising nearly £8,000.Lorraine Claydon, Sonia Mayes, Donna Eccleston and Mandi Abbott wanted to thank the hospice for the care it gave their father, Felixstowe businessman Jeff Page, while he was dying from cancer.

FOUR sisters' fundraising efforts in memory of their dad have provided a host of equipment for the St Elizabeth Hospice after raising nearly £8,000.

Lorraine Claydon, Sonia Mayes, Donna Eccleston and Mandi Abbott wanted to thank the hospice for the care it gave their father, Felixstowe businessman Jeff Page, while he was dying from cancer.

They held two special cabaret nights, and Lorraine and Sonia both did a sponsored parachute jump, and raised just under £8,000 in total.

The money was used to buy the hospice in Ipswich, ten television sets, a washing machine and drier, and six reclining chairs.

Mrs Eccleston said: "We wanted to do something in memory of dad and to thank the people at the hospice for the wonderful help and care they gave him - they are amazing.

"The fundraising events we held went brilliantly and the support we had was fantastic - people really got behind what we were doing.

"As a family, we just want to thank everyone who supported us and helped us with the events, and all those who donated, sponsored and came along to take part in and enjoy the evenings."

Mr Page, who ran Happi Pets in Grange Road, Felixstowe, died a couple of months after cancer was diagnosed. He left a widow Eileen, and the family are carrying on running the business.

He was diagnosed in November 2003 after complaining of pains in his arms and neck, which doctors first thought was arthritis. He was having treatment for arthritis when a specialist suggested a scan which detected the cancer.

He died in January last year.

The sisters held their cabaret evenings at Felixstowe Beach Holiday Park - the first featured a draw and a Robbie Williams tribute act, and the second had Freddie Mercury and Rod Stewart tribute acts.

Mrs Eccleston said the family would be carrying on with the fundraising and hope to organise another special evening later this year.

n Has the work of the St Elizabeth Hospice touched your life? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or you can e-mail EveningStarLetters@eveningstar.co.uk