May 2022 - East Cheshire Hospice
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Month: May 2022

Artist Karin Sheldon shares her art story

Posted on by Becky Sidwell

Grandmother Karin Sheldon enjoys making things – whether it is delicate jewellery, or restoring her stone cottage.

Karin Sheldon who is exhibiting at Art Fair Cheshire.

Her hand-crafted jewellery and silversmithing will be proudly on display at Art Fair Cheshire.

Her days are taken up either creating art work, or renovating her Bollington home once owned by her mum Helen Daniell.

Home and jewellery maker Karin Sheldon with tools at the ready.   

Karin said: “I’ve been a maker all my life and if you want it, make it. My parents were makers as well. I didn’t know what I wanted to do when I left school but heard about art school where you could make stuff so took a degree in jewellery and silversmithing.

“I’m a DIY person and doing a lot of the work on my cottage which is nearly complete. I only get the experts in when I need to.

“If you’ve grown up using materials you have an innate understanding of them and mine stretches to precious metals as well. ”

In addition, Karin has donated a necklace to help further boost Art Fair profits  and she has a soft spot for the Hospice which cared for her late mum who died in 2008, aged 81.

She said: “They looked after my mum and looked after me as well which is the wonderful thing about hospices. It is a marvellous place and I’ve also had friends cared for there. ”

The Sheldon name is synonymous with design. Karin’s family once owned Paradise Mill at the Silk Museum.

The Queen’s Jubilee celebrations packs

Posted on by Becky Sidwell

Special Jubilee packs have been produced by East Cheshire Hospice to mark the Queen’s 70 years on the throne.

Organisers of several street parties have already requested the limited-edition packs which contain Union Jack flags and bunting.

The Hospice has more free packs to give away to help celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in style over the extended four-day Bank Holiday at the start of June.

Staff at East Cheshire Hospice get in the mood for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

The packs also have Jubilee-themed fundraising ideas for a variety of events to mark the occasion.

Claire Gorton, community fundraising assistant at the Hospice, said: “If you’re thinking of organising an activity with friends, family and community then why not support a great local cause while you celebrate this momentous occasion?

“Whether you’d like to host a street party, get sponsored to spend the day in fancy dress, or sell handmade crafts, we’d love to hear from you.

“There’s lots of ways people can join in the fun. It could be a red, white and blue day, quiz night, street party, craft activities, BBQ, tombola, bake sale, afternoon tea or even a 1950s themed party.

“In honour of the Queen’s 70 years on the throne, why not challenge yourself to do 70 press-ups or squats every day in June, or run 70 miles over the month?

“It could be a competition to make the best crown-shaped biscuit, or a traditional British desert.”

Contact the community team via email community@echospice.org.uk or call 01625 789103.

Jubilee packs are available from eastcheshirehospice.org.uk/events/the-queens-jubilee/

Daredevil takes on ECH Wingwalk

Posted on by Becky Sidwell

Daredevil Tom Harding has no fears about standing on top of a plane and soaring through the sky.

Especially as his wing walk is raising funds for East Cheshire Hospice where his auntie Sarah Bell died six months ago.

The charity still has a few places left for those daring enough to strap themselves on to a 1940s Boeing Stearman biplane over a Gloucestershire airfield on Monday, July 11.

Tom, aged 27, cannot wait to get airborne after his safety briefing. He said: “I’ve got three brothers and they all think I’m mad.

“I’ve always been known as the wild one and I’d always be up for the challenge of a bungee jump or a banana boat.

“I think my brothers would love to have a go at the wing walk themselves but they can’t pluck up the courage. My younger brother Jack has just broken his wrist doing a bungee jump.”

Family, friends and work colleagues are sponsoring Tom, a service team operator at AstraZeneca. He is involved in the Zoladex project, a treatment for breast and prostate cancer patients.

The Harding brothers with dad Phil (centre). From left, Jack, James, Harry and Tom.

AstraZeneca have close links with the Hospice and will match fund Tom’s fundraising total which has already topped £1,100 with almost half that sum donated on the first day.

His family were overwhelmed by the care Sarah received at the Hospice. She was just 39 and died of melanoma cancer.

Tom said: “The way they looked after my auntie was incredible. I just wanted to give something back for all the care and love they gave her while she was there.

“We all speak highly of the Hospice and the work done by the nurses. Our granddad took the family on holidays and we shared those precious times with Sarah.

“She would be laughing her head off at the thought of me doing a wing walk.”

* To sponsor Tom visit justgiving.com/fundraising/tom-harding6

Interested wing walkers must be at least 18, no taller than 6 ft 2 in and no heavier than 14 stone, with a waist measurement of 40″ or less while wearing warm clothing and a jacket.

The cost is a £150 deposit upon registration and a guarantee to raise a minimum of £500 sponsorship.

* To sign up visit eastcheshirehospice.org.uk/events/wingwalk-2022/

Open your garden to support East Cheshire Hospice

Posted on by Becky Sidwell

Would you like to show off your garden to support East Cheshire Hospice?

Green-fingered gurus are invited to share their passion for gardening with visitors.

The Hospice will provide a fundraising pack to help home owners who join its Opens Gardens scheme.

Last summer Bill and Julie North entertained visitors at their beautiful garden on Kennedy Avenue and the couple are planning to do the same again this year.

Bill and Julie North who are opening up their garden again for East Cheshire Hospice.

Claire Gorton, community fundraising assistant at the Hospice, said: “Many wonderful gardens are hidden away and Open Gardens is the perfect opportunity to share them with others.

“We’re here to help anyone who wants to take part and our fundraising pack includes a guide, collection boxes, collection buckets, balloons, banners and posters.

“We’ll also send a digital resources pack which includes directions and safety signage, an event checklist and fundraising ideas.

“Those who want to get involved need to choose a date and time and an entry fee. We recommend between £3 and £5.

“People can decide if they want to set a fundraising target, if they have a goal, and if they want to provide teas and coffees, a cake stall, plant sale or raffle.

“Other things to think of are promoting it through friends and our website/social media and checking your garden is safe which might be whether there’s wobbly steps or a pond.”

* For details visit eastcheshirehospice.org.uk/open-gardens-2022/

East Cheshire Hospice’s Chestergate shop opening!

Posted on by Becky Sidwell

A shop run by East Cheshire Hospice has reopened more than two years after closing its doors.

Now the charity shop on Chestergate has made an urgent appeal for donations of clothing and accessories to put on sale.

The store greeted its first customers on Saturday (May 7), reviving the Hospice’s town centre retail presence.

The Chestergate premises have undergone a major refurbishment over the last few weeks to give it a completely new look.

The store had to close in March 2020 when the pandemic meant social distancing was impractical  due to space restrictions.

It became a bereavement centre briefly, but the Hospice realised the venue was unsuitable and are delighted it has now returned to its former retail use.

Hospice Commercial Manager Louise Delany said: “It’s great to be back in the town centre and although we’re in familiar surroundings, it’s a fresh new shop with a stylish and elegant interior.

“It looks and feels completely different than before, with a bright and modern yet rustic atmosphere throughout its two floors.

“There’s something for everyone here and we’d love it if people came along to see us.

“I must stress that we’re in need of more donations and now that we’ve opened hopefully people will drop by with items we can sell.

“We’d be grateful if supporters can look in their wardrobes and dig out any good quality clothing and bric-a-brac. We also want electrical items, but no toys and books.”

The shop is managed by Lindsay McDonald who previously worked at the Hospice’s Thornton Square shop.  It will be open six days per week (Mon- Sat 9.30 am to 4.30 pm). The charity also has shops in Poynton and Handforth.

Lindsay McDonald, manager of the new East Cheshire Hospice shop on Chestergate.

Hospice Marketing Manager Luke Brightmore said:  “Our retail shops are a hugely important part of our fundraising, and also an important connection to our community.

“Not only does selling your donated clothing, furniture and goods help raise vital funds for the Hospice and the work we do, but having these locations out in our communities where people can visit, interact and support us really helps to maintain that special bond that we have with our community.

“The new shop on Chestergate sells only the most beautiful pieces of clothing, accessories and other pre-loved items, and is also eco-conscious, striving for little to no unnecessary waste.”

The shop also needs  volunteers. Anyone interested can call 01625 511997.

Moneybox help and encourage during Dying Matters Week

Posted on by Becky Sidwell

A free monthly legal clinic is one way East Cheshire Hospice helps patients and families prepare for the future.

Advice on making a Will is among topics covered by Moneybox Wills and Trusts, Thorneycroft, Dunkerley and GPW Trusts, the four companies supporting the initiative.

The half-hour advice sessions are available between 11 am and 1 pm every second Friday of the month at the Hospice.

To register for the next clinic on May 13 call 01625 665685, or email dcoffice@echospice.org.uk.

During Dying Matters Week, Joe Etherington, Head of Wills and Trusts at Bollington-based Moneybox, is encouraging  people to consider making a Will.

Joe Etherington outside the Moneybox Wills and Trusts offices in Bollington.

Joe said: “It’s important people get qualified advice as there are so many misunderstandings, myths and out-of-date ideas.

“There’s a shift towards people being more open about making a Will, but not enough of one. That resistance over speaking about Wills is partly because people are unwilling to face their own mortality.

“They think if it’s 40 years away, why bother now? Half still don’t realise the law decides what happens to their possessions when they die and they think their family can deal with it.

“A lot have a second relationship now and don’t realise until making a new Will that in getting re-married they may have accidentally disinherited their children.”

Will Week each October sees solicitors waive fees in lieu of a donation to the Hospice. East Cheshire also encourages families and patients to plan for their future through its bereavement and Sunflower Centre services.

Find out more about Dying Matters Awareness Week.

A loving Hospice story

Posted on by Becky Sidwell

Retired nurse Janet Dean has a powerful personal story about how East Cheshire Hospice has helped her family over the years.

Her late mother and late husband were cared for by the charity, which is now asking others to also share their own experiences.

The request is part of Dying Matters Week (May 2-6), a national campaign run by Hospice UK to encourage people to talk about death and grief more openly.

Janet Dean who has attended more than 850 sessions of an exercise class to help cope following the loss of her husband Peter.

The Hospice want to hear from current users of its services, plus friends and relatives of former patients. The aim is to make families feel comfortable with Hospice care.

Like Janet, whose mum Florence Hooley (70) died in 1994 and husband Peter (66) in 2019, both at  East Cheshire Hospice.

Janet said: “Obviously a patient would prefer not to become part of the family there, but whether as a relative, patient, staff, or volunteer, it’s like being part of a big family. The Hospice gathers you in and embraces you.

“The Hospice motto is ‘where people come to live’ which was the case for my mother and husband and other relatives I’ve lost there.

“Mum’s first stay was for symptom management. I remember her saying to me ‘It’s like a five-star hotel. They even ask you what you want for your meals.’

“I worked in the NHS for many years. I’d pop in after work, and as a Ward Sister on an acute medical ward at the time, it was always so peaceful at the Hospice. The care the staff were giving I could only dream of on my busiest day.”

“The care is not just about doctors and nurses. It’s holistic. Focusing on emotional and spiritual care as well as practical needs. Peter especially gained peace from Reflexology. This surprised me, as he wouldn’t even let me cut his toenails, he was so ticklish!”

Peter Dean after catching supper on a holiday in New Zealand in 2013.

The couple donated to the Hospice to support its opening in 1988, the start of a long-standing fundraising association. Janet has now volunteered as a ward clerk and receptionist for five years.

Beth England, Individual Giving Fundraiser, said: “Sharing your experience can help so many future families who may feel worried, or unsure, about hospice care.

“If you’ve experienced the care and support of East Cheshire Hospice, either first-hand, or as a family member or friend, we’d love to hear your story.”

* Visit eastcheshirehospice.org.uk/support/tell-us-your-hospice-story/ or email stories@echospice.org.uk or call 01625 433477.

Find out more about Dying Matters Awareness Week.

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