ARTWORK by Bolton Hospice patients is going on show in a new exhibition at Bolton Museum.

To celebrate the hospice’s 20th anniversary, the exhibition is looking back over the past two decades, whilst showcasing work from cur- rent and former patients.

The exhibition, called “Memories: Celebrating 20 years of Bolton Hospice”, opens on Friday and runs until June 2.

Patients came up with the idea for an exhibition as they were keen to show off their work.

It is the first time Bolton Hospice has had an exhibition at the museum, and staff and patients are excit- ed about the launch.

Work by resident poet Phil Isherwood, inspired by patients’ experiences, will go on display alongside paintings and other creations by the patients them- selves.

There will also be articles and images documenting the history of the hospice and its work in the community — including old cut- tings from The Bolton News.

Patients completed their artwork during creative therapy sessions, which form part of planned day therapy sessions run by Bolton Hospice Support Services.

Creative therapist Mary Stubbs said: “The idea of mounting an exhibition was first suggested by our patients, who are rightly proud of their work developed through our creative therapy sessions. These sessions have produced a large collection of patient artwork.

“When the museum heard about our 20th anniversary, they offered not only to dis- play the patients’ artwork and poetry, but also wanted to chart the 20-year history of the hospice.”

To celebrate the hospice’s 20th anniversary, Bolton Hospice and The Bolton News are running a joint campaign to raise £110,000 for the Hospice at Home team.

Hospice at Home nurses visit patients at the end of their lives in their own homes and their care makes it possible for people to remain at home with their loved ones in their final days.

The money raised will pay for an additional team of nurses, which will enable twice as many people to be cared for in their own homes.