Staff at the Chelmsford-based J's Hospice have said they are "delighted" the new Chelmsford mayor has chosen to support it as her charity of the year. 

The new Mayor of Chelmsford Councillor Patricia Hughes revealed she would be supporting the charity this year during a ceremony on Wednesday. 

She said: “I am absolutely delighted to be able to support The J’s Hospice for the coming year by raising awareness and funds for the specialist and supportive care which they give to young adults and their families.”

Jo Colbert, Head of Fundraising at The J’s Hospice added: “We care for young adults aged 16 – 40 years who are too old for children’s hospice services and too young for adult services.

"Our Hospice at Home service celebrated its fifth anniversary last October and we are now caring for over 100 young adults and their families across Essex.”

“We are so pleased that we have been chosen by the Mayor as her sole charity and we are already planning an exciting range of fundraising activities and events to reach the Mayor’s target of £30,000!”

The Mayor’s first event is an Indian Meal and Quiz on Friday 1st July at The Royal Tiger restaurant at Rettendon Common.

Tickets are only £20 which includes canapés, a two course dinner and quiz followed by a disco.

For more information and tickets, visit www.thejshospice.org.uk or email the Deputy Mayor, Linda Denston - lindadenston2@gmail.com

The Mayor will also be supporting The J’s Hospice’s own fundraising activities during the year.

She will be officially starting the Birketts’ Race4Business 2016 - which is raising money for the charity – at 6.30pm on Thursday 23rd June, alongside celebrity guests Graham Gooch and Graham Napier.

Registration for Race4Business is still open and people can enter as an individual or in a team at www.birketts.co.uk/race4business.

Anyone interested in helping The J’s Hospice as a volunteer at this event should contact the charity on 01245 475474.