Staff at East Cheshire Hospice once again hit extraordinary heights in 2021.
Not just caring for patients, but with a daring wing walk.
Health care assistant Jo Helm and husband David Helm before their wing walk.
The magnificent seven on their flying machine – a classic 1940s Boeing Stearman biplane – were health care assistants Jo Helm, Jill Harding, Caroline Allen and Pam Webster, complementary therapist Gill Black, staff nurse Laura Parker and fundraiser Bethan Wade.
Jo and husband David are now planning their next adventure – a Sahara trek in November
Many supporters went to incredible lengths in aid of the Hospice.
Lucy Coppack, from Langley, hiked up 88 hills in the Peak District, defying a dislocated knee to raise more than £8,000.
The trek across trig points, in memory of her mum Lynne who died at the Hospice 25 years ago, had a poignant ending at Shutlingsloe.
Family and friends meet Lucy Coppack at the top of Shutlingsloe.
Lynne, a landscape architect, designed the route to the summit and her dad, a council ranger, partly built the path.
Bollington teenager Finley Foote has barely stopped running since the first lockdown and is aiming to raise £10,000 from his exercise regime.
Runner Finley Foote who is well on his way towards raising £10,000.
Another non-stop fundraiser is accordion player John Jones MBE who reached a £100,000 fundraising milestone for the Hospice.
He has also raised a six-figure sum for the intensive care unit at Macclesfield and District General Hospital which cared for his late wife June.
The vaccine roll-out saw Andrews Pharmacy, on Kennedy Avenue, become one of the first community pharmacies to begin inoculations almost a year ago.
Hospice nurses helped out while their own Sunflower Centre was closed during the pandemic, with the charity compensated for loaning staff.
A Drive-In Cinema and Firewalk signalled the gradual return of fundraising events organised by the Hospice.
Meanwhile, volunteer Elspeth Julian retired after 33 years with the charity.
Elspeth, from Prestbury, had been an adult bereavement counsellor almost since the day the Hospice opened its doors in 1988.
Elspeth Julian who retired after 33 years as a volunteer at East Cheshire Hospice.
Another farewell saw postman Robin Emery, from Hurdsfield, make his final delivery before retirement – a cheque of more than £2,000 for the Hospice.
Robin Emery who retired after 28 years as a postman. Picture courtesy of Paul Woods.
Robin’s final round was Gawsworth where he even held a farewell party to thank villagers for their friendship and support.
In September, the Hospice opened a new Proseal Wing, named after the company which generously donated funds so the extension could be built at the charity’s site on Millbank Drive.
Back to all newsThank you so much for choosing to support East Cheshire Hospice. You may never know how much your gift means, but we know that it will make the world of difference to our patients and their families.
