LeasePlan has announced the delivery of a Mercedes Sprinter van to Thames Hospicecare, as part of a longstanding charitable partnership.

The van has been provided on a free lease arrangement and replaces an earlier vehicle donated by LeasePlan in 2007. Employees at LeasePlan originally chose to support Thames Hospicecare as a result of a poll for the local charity they would most like to help.

The van is worth £32,000 and will ensure that goods donated by the local community can be distributed to the Hospice’s 14 shops in East Berkshire for sale. This will, in turn, help to raise the income the Hospice needs to continue to provide its specialist nursing care and support to the community. The vehicle will also be used to collect furniture and other large items donated by supporters of the Hospice.

Ros White, retail director at Thames Hospicecare said: "This support is extremely welcome and we are very grateful to LeasePlan for such a generous donation. The van will be of immense help to us in running our shops to their full potential.”

Steve Moss, HR director at LeasePlan said: “Thames Hospicecare is a local charity that we’ve been supporting for a number of years now. Its transport needs have given us the ideal opportunity to use our expertise to continue that support in a way that has real impact.

“The vehicle we’ve supplied will help the Hospice to continue to support those in our community most in need of its exceptional nursing and support, and also helps us to give something back to that same community on which so much of our success is built.”