Month: November 2021

Keen walker Jen Johnson wore her late mum’s wedding ring for inspiration during a coast-to-coast hike. The treasured possession is a poignant reminder of Madeline who organised walks for fellow day care patients in the Sunflower Centre at East Cheshire Hospice.

There at last!  Jen Johnson and Andrew Gregory at the end of their walk with a Hospice bag they took with them.  

Madeline, from Tytherington, died in the hospice in 2018, six years after she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She was 68 and a retired medical secretary at Macclesfield and District General Hospital. Madeline’s courage motivated Jen and fiancé Andrew Gregory during their 12-day hike from St Bees Head to Robin Hood’s Bay.

The pair raised £2,100 for the Hospice from their 200-mile walk. Jen also added a £200 long-service award from the Environment Agency where she works.

Jen Johnson and Andrew Gregory at Kidsty Pike, the highest point of their coast-to-coast walk.

Jen said: “The walk was a tribute to my mum because she just loved walking. She co-ordinated hikes for the group at the Sunflower Centre and I know she’d have loved the route we took.

“I gave mum’s ring a little rub if we had a tough day walking up hills and it was nice to do something in her memory.

“The walk was exhilarating and was on our challenges-to-do list. We led a very simple and free life for 12 days.

“All I had to do was get up, eat a good breakfast, make sure I’d got everything in my bag and walk.

“The views were phenomenal, particularly in the Lake District and at the start where we could see the Isle of Man and Scotland.

Jen Johnson and Andrew Gregory in the Lake District.

“Then we headed inland for the hills. The hikes were beautiful and every single day you couldn’t wipe the smile off my face.

“We loved the challenge and never was it not worth it. All the stress of work and everyday life just fell away as we went back to basics.”

Dad Richard sings with the Hospice choir and the family will always be grateful to the charity for the care given to Madeline.

Jen said: “The staff were brilliant and we wanted to give something back.  The Hospice is such a special place and while mum was ill there was a strong support network for her and dad. We felt like a family in a home, everyone was so good.”

Madeline’s granddaughter Matilda Johnson, who is Jen’s niece,  also did a sponsored swim in aid of the Hospice in 2018.

* To sponsor Jen and Andrew visit justgiving.com/fundraising/jen-and-andy-go-walking

It was a case of lucky 13 for a lottery syndicate from Woburn Court retirement apartments in Poynton. The 26-strong syndicate scooped a £3,000 rollover prize in the East Cheshire Hospice lottery.

Each member received £115 and it is not the first time they have struck lucky. Several years ago they also shared the weekly £1,000 jackpot. Syndicate organiser Carole Clarke said:  “We have 13 numbers in the draw and we’re very fortunate to win again. It was a lovely surprise.

Some members of the winning syndicate from Woburn Court receive their cheque from lottery organisers Carol Frain  and Celia Stanley.  

“The Hospice organisers came in to present our cheque and that also gave us the chance to buy Christmas cards and diaries from them.”

The syndicate was set up by the late Betty Flanagan. Carole, a grandmother of four, said: “Betty was a great supporter of the Hospice and I was happy to take over running the syndicate for a very good cause.

“We see our lottery membership as way of making a donation, so winning was a bonus. One of our residents volunteers there and others have associations with the charity. We like to support them when we can.”

The lottery generates £324,000 a year which funds one day of care each week in the Sunflower Centre. Tickets are £1 with a weekly jackpot of £1,000, plus 22 other cash prizes, including a second prize of £200, which can rollover.  Entry at £4.34 a month can be via direct debit, debit card or cheque.

* To join visit eastcheshirehospice.org.uk/support/lottery or call 01625 433477 (Ext 2).

Optician Graham Doyle and his colleagues kept their eyes firmly focussed on the job when they bravely tackled a Firewalk. The fearless four took stepping over hot coals in their stride as they aim to raise an impressive £1,000 for East Cheshire Hospice.

Graham was joined by son Edward, Kate Brocklehurst and Emma Titchen, all of whom work at James Doyle Opticians in Wilmslow. There to watch them was Graham’s wife Raffaella.

Fire walkers from James Doyle Opticians (from left) Kate Brocklehurst, Edward Doyle, Graham Doyle and Emma Titchen

The team were among a host of daring volunteers who faced the challenge at the Hospice’s headquarters on Millbank Drive.

Graham said: “The motivation was that we work in the health care sector and very sadly my mother died of cancer at the Hospice. A close neighbour and long-term customer was also a patient there.

“We’re all very proud to have completed the challenge. Everyone’s worked so hard during these difficult times and it was a great team building exercise.

“The organiser got us all revved up, and as more wood was chopped up for the fire, you had to keep telling yourself  ‘I think I can, I think I can – I can!'”

Mission accomplished – firewalkers cool down after their challenge. 

  The Hospice is hoping to raise at least £9,400 from the event which had to be postponed last year.

Graham said: “The Hospice are so imaginative with their events and it was a pleasure to support their fundraising activities.”