London pensioner in 135-mile trip to deliver donation to Compton Hospice

Those are the words of Joe Hagland who has touched the hearts of staff and patients at Compton Hospice by travelling 135 miles to personally deliver a donation after it was targeted by metal thieves.

So moved by an appeal on the BBC's Crimewatch Roadshow that aired this week, the 79-year-old from London got in touch with the hospice and on Thursday he made the journey up to Wolverhampton to hand over a cheque for £100 towards the repair fund.

And his act of kindness has received an outpouring of support and goodwill from people on the hospice's Facebook page, with the story 'liked' by more than 12,000 people on Facebook and shared more than 4,700 times.

The hospice has also received further donations as a result, including £150 from a woman in Scotland.

"It's all for a good cause and my heart just went out to them."

During his time at the hospice, Mr Hagland spent time talking with patients in the Woods Therapy Day Centre, telling them how much our the story had moved him.

"I had a wonderful time," he said.

"I thought it was just a matter of giving a donation, meeting those people and bringing a little help because they are a charity and for the scallywags to do that to a hospice is terrible.

"When I left there I gave every woman a hug and shook every man's hand and as I walked to the door it brought a tear to my eye and they all stood up and did a slow clap - it really touched me.

"It was so lovely to talk to those people. My philosophy in life is if you can help, why not. I'm just trying to help and bring a smile."

Among the messages left on the Facebook site included one from Jackie Addison Burton, who said: "He restores your faith in human generosity and kindness.

"It's reassuring to know it's still out there at a time when we seem to hear about nothing but evil acts. Bless his generous heart."

Susan Smith added: "What an incredible thing to do. Bless his beautiful heart. Thank you from someone who's had a family member treated at Compton."

Grace Ruston, Compton Hospice marketing manger, said: "Every now and then there are moments in life that help to restore your faith in humanity.

"All of us here at Compton Hospice have been incredibly moved by Joe's gesture, we cannot thank him enough for his donation."

The hospice has so far received donations of more than £3,500 following the raids which happened in May.

The hospice, which helps cancer sufferers in south Shropshire as well as Wolverhampton and parts of Staffordshire, was hit twice by thieves, leaving tit with a £20,000 repair bill in May.

Lead was stolen from the roof of the charity's fundraising, education and trading centre called The Cedars, in Compton Road West, with rooms flooded as a result. Catalytic converters were also taken from three charity vans.

The crime this week appeared on Crimewatch Roadshow, when a fresh appeal for information was made.

As well as donations, the hospice has also taken up the offer of free CCTV from a security firm.

Police investigations are continuing with officers asking scrap dealers for their help.

Mr Hagland, who still delivers newspapers locally after 32 years and enjoys riding his bike, added that he was overwhelmed with the response his gesture had received on Facebook and the kind messages from people who had left comments.

He said: "All in all this is the experience of my life, I just can't believe it. This has gone beyond expectations."