It’s that time of year again…the chance to win stacks of cash just in time for Christmas and help those living with cancer and other serious illnesses at the same time.

Local charity St Giles Hospice has just launched its annual Big Bonanza Draw with a total prize fund of £10,000.Local charity St Giles Hospice has just launched its annual Big Bonanza Draw with a total prize fund of £10,000.

This is the fourth year the hospice has organised the fundraising draw - with the three previous events generating a massive £90,000 to help support the hospice’s valuable work.

This year, the lucky winner will scoop a whopping £4,000 jackpot, with the runner-up collecting £2,000, and five further players receiving £500 cash prizes. A host of runners-up will receive smaller prizes.

Richard Simmonite, St Giles Hospice Promotions’ Commercial Manager, explains: “While St Giles does a wonderful job, it can’t provide care for all those who need it, and more funds are desperately required.

”The Big Bonanza Draw is an important and popular fundraising initiative and we hope to attract even more entrants this year.

”By taking part, people are not only in with a chance of winning one of the great cash prizes, but they can also be sure that every penny of the proceeds will go to support our work.”

The 2006 draw will take place on Thursday 21st December - just in time to give some very lucky people a happy and prosperous Christmas.

Tickets cost £1 each and are available to purchase, or to sell on the hospice’s behalf to friends, family and colleagues, by calling 0845 370 6580 until Monday 18th December.

St Giles Hospice is a registered charity offering high-quality medical and nursing care for people with cancer and other serious illness, as well as providing support for their families and carers.

Patients come from across the hospice’s catchment area, which ranges from Ashby de la Zouch and Atherstone in the east, to Cannock and Walsall in the west – and from Burton and Uttoxeter in the north, to Sutton Coldfield and Coleshill in the south.

Care is offered either at the hospice in Whittington, near Lichfield, or in patients' own homes across the region, where community nurses have made more than 7,000 visits over the past twelve months.

The range of high-quality, specialist services are expensive to provide, and the hospice relies heavily on donations and fundraising – including initiatives such as the Big Bonanza Draw.