The hospice, which provides specialist and expert care to adults and children with life-limiting conditions, is close to Graeme and his family’s hearts as his mother Rita received end-of-life care on the Inpatient Unit thirty years ago when Graeme was just 20 years old.

Graeme has enjoyed a hugely successful football career, first as a player and now in coaching, which has taken him across the country. It was a return to his native North East to join the Magpies' coaching team that saw him reconnect with St Oswald’s Hospice three decades after the passing of his mother.

Graeme said: "My wife Debbie and I never forgot the care that my mam received at St Oswald’s Hospice.

"The staff looked after us all at what was in incredibly difficult time and I had always planned to work with the hospice in some way, to show my support and help them to raise funds.

"Now that I am back in the region, it seems like the perfect time. I am proud and delighted to be working with the St Oswald’s Hospice team to support their fundraising events and raise awareness of their vital work in our North East community."

Welcoming Graeme Jones as an ambassador, Jane Hogan, Head of Fundraising at St Oswald’s Hospice, said: "I’m thrilled to welcome Graeme to the St Oswald’s Hospice family.

"We were all so touched to hear that Graeme and Debbie had never forgotten us because the care Rita received made such an impact on the family.

"We are already working with Graeme on some exciting plans including a Sportsman’s Dinner event for later in the year and we know that with his profile in the region and passion for the work that we do, it will be a perfect partnership. "Thank you to Graeme for becoming an ambassador for our charity and to him and his family for supporting us, our patients and families in this special way."

To find out more about St Oswald’s Hospice, please visit stoswaldsuk.org.