By Kathleen Speirs

GENEROUS garage and supermarket bosses are leading a new fundraising drive for a local charity.

Pearson Cars in Wemyss Bay have teamed up with Tesco in Port Glasgow to hold a raffle in aid of Ardgowan Hospice.

Up for grabs is a brand new five-door Suziki Swift SZ2, worth £9,500, kindly donated by Pearson.

Staff at Tesco say the hospice holds a special place in their hearts, after a colleague spent his final days in the hospice last year.

Russell Houston, the store manager, said: “It’s very important to myself and all my colleagues here to do whatever we can to help Ardgowan Hospice.

“It’s a great charity that does amazing work.

“In this area you’d struggle to find anyone that hasn’t been helped in some way by the hospice, so it’s only right to give something back.”

The charity raffle, which raised a massive £17,000 last year, is in aid of a planned refurbishment of the original hospice building on Nelson Street in Greenock, which has been used by patients for over 35 years.

Anne Mills, hospice chief executive, says she is very grateful to Tesco and Pearson for the appeal.

She told the Tele: “This is just fantastic for the hospice and will make a real difference.

“Our patients are well looked after but the building they are currently in is around 155 years old, so we want to give them the environment they deserve.

“Last year’s winner was a man from Port Glasgow whose relative was a patient of ours, so we are looking forward to giving away this fabulous car to someone this year.”

The winner of the raffle will be drawn on September 16.

Tickets cost £2 and can be bought in store.