Community Archives - Page 14 of 16 - East Cheshire Hospice

Christmas Tree Collection 2020 is live!!

Posted on 16th January 2020 by Luke Brightmore

Plans to dispose of Christmas trees are already in place, even though the lights may have only just been switched on!

The East Cheshire Hospice Christmas Tree Collection service is already accepting registrations for its January operation.

Visit www.echtrees.org.uk, or call the customer care hotline 01625 708939, to arrange to have trees collected on the weekend of Saturday, January 11, and Sunday, January 12.

Next year marks the 20th year of the service which has raised more than £1m for the Hospice.

The organisers are encouraging the public to buy real Christmas trees due to their environmental credentials.

More than 700 trees were registered in the first week after applications opened on November 18 and the figure has risen to well over 1,000.

Hospice Marketing Manager Amy Chatwood said: “The Christmas Tree Collection has always been a huge success thanks to the generosity of our supporters and we’re confident the anniversary collection will be just as popular.”

Co-founder Richard Raymond said: “I’m humbled and amazed by the scale of the operation and once again Pete Chapman and I want to thank everyone for their support in so many different ways.

“A Christmas tree from a sustainable source is known to be the eco-friendly alternative to a plastic version. We recycle all the trees enhancing the environmental credentials of buying a real tree.”

Around 300 volunteers will be out in force covering Macclesfield, Wilmslow, Alderley Edge, Bollington, Prestbury, Poynton, Congleton and Knutsford. The post codes are CW12, SK9, SK10, SK11, SK12 and WA16.

The collection, sponsored by AstraZeneca, will see a fleet of around 40 vans, half of them supplied by Cheshire Vehicle Rental, picking up trees for recycling at the Ansa Park depot.

Transport technology company TRU will provide route-mapping software to simplify the logistical challenge.

£30k raised by Quiz Night

Posted on 16th January 2020 by Luke Brightmore

A quiz group have raised more than £30,000 on behalf of East Cheshire Hospice since they asked their first question six years ago.

The latest contest at Marlborough Primary School saw Doug the Rug and Friends come out on top, enjoying a narrow victory over perennial winners Ageing Athletes, previously known as The Magnificent Seven.

The organisers, including Alison Brammer, Nik Kalka and question masters Paul Morrissey and Mark Watson, raised £2,021 on the night.

The quiz is held three times a year and Storm Brewing once again donated the beer. Owner Dave Stebbings and now retired partner Hugh Thompson have been loyal supporters.

Nik, who organises the bar, said: “The quiz nights are a regular fixture in the fundraising calendar for the Hospice and we had another great turn out.

“We’d all like to thank Julie Mierzejewski and the team at Marlborough School who let us use the hall for free, Storm Brewing for the generous donation of beer, the Hospice staff and volunteers for helping with organisation and Neil Drummond for running the stand-up bingo each time.

“All those who’ve attended the quizzes over the last few years also deserve thanks, along with donors of raffle prizes.”

Art Fair Cheshire 2019 Success!

Posted on 16th January 2020 by Luke Brightmore

Art Fair Cheshire raised a bumper £45,000 for East Cheshire Hospice as it celebrated its 20th anniversary in style.

The biennial event enjoyed a record year of sponsorship and the donation will fund the charity’s art therapy unit.

The Hospice, which held an afternoon tea to thank organisers and volunteers, has received around £400,000 from Art Fair Cheshire in the last two decades.

Hospice Director Karyn Johnston said: “We’re so grateful to everyone who helped make the event such an outstanding success. It’s an amazing donation and represents a huge amount of care for our art psychotherapy service.”

The Art Fair Cheshire committee adopted a new look for the autumn 2019 edition at Macclesfield Town Hall, a move that paid off handsomely.

Co-chair Georgie Johnson said: “Art Fair Cheshire went in a new direction this year with a fresh look and feel and we’re really pleased how it went.

“It was extremely well attended and we couldn’t have run it without help from more than 70 volunteers. We want to thank them all and everyone else who contributed in so many different ways.”

Each participating artist donated a minimum of 40 per cent of every sale to the Hospice with more than 80 artists and crafts experts exhibiting work.

Art Fair Cheshire also organised another exhibition, ‘Gathering’ by artist Susie MacMurray, an installation which enjoyed pride of place at Tatton Park for four months.

The art work drew wide praise from Tatton visitors, helping raise awareness of Art Fair Cheshire and the Hospice.

Co-chair Steven Dalton said: “Gathering was a huge success and we’re grateful for the massive support from volunteers. Lots of people have bought souvenir elements of the installation and all proceeds go directly to the Hospice.”

Elements available in unique editions can be bought until March 2020 via www.gatheringattatton.com.

Dreambeams Ball Debut

Posted on 16th January 2020 by Luke Brightmore

Sisters Jemima and Annabelle Jordan found the recipe for fundraising success when they started baking cakes for disadvantaged children.

Little did they know that three years on their cookery skills would inspire a new charity which is now helping bereaved youngsters in Macclesfield.

Mum Katie and her daughters set up Dream Beams which has made a staggering £102,100 donation to East Cheshire Hospice to fund its Childhood Bereavement Service.

An exclusive Dream Beams Ball at Merrydale Manor was the culmination of lots of hard work by Katie, the charity’s chair, her trustees and events committee.

Katie, from Henbury, said: “We’re a family driven by challenge and always wanting to push ourselves.

“The girls would bake for weeks and want to help other children who aren’t as fortunate as themselves. Jemima had the bright idea we should all get involved and we only registered the charity in March.

“Dream Beams aims is to shed beams of light on to other children through fundraising events and supporting local charities.”

The Hospice’s Childhood Bereavement Service was the perfect fit, especially as a five-year Big Lottery grant used for funding had expired.

Katie said: “As a young teenager I lost close relatives so know how devastating it can be and how incredibly difficult the journey is. That’s why I’m so passionate about this cause.

“The Ball far exceeded our expectations and the trustees want to thank everyone who supported us so generously in many different ways.”

Main sponsors were Quanta Capital, Jordan Fishwick Exclusive and Vincentius. Donors also included Rolls-Royce Manchester, Boodles, Amazon, Mistral Gin, Coggles, Pinches Medical, Matalan, Waitrose and Virgin Atlantic.

Neil Travis, General Manager, Amazon Manchester, said: “Dream Beams does such vital work supporting children across Cheshire and when we heard about the Ball in aid of the Hospice’s Childhood Bereavement Service we jumped at the opportunity to offer our support.

“We donated 20 Echo devices for the ball raffle and £1,000 to the charity fund and hope the donation helps the team provide life-changing services to the community. ”

Guests included the Lord-Lieutenant of Cheshire David Briggs MBE KStJ, President of East Cheshire Hospice, and the then Tatton MP Esther McVey.

Steve Nixon Challenge 1,2,3

Posted on 16th January 2020 by Luke Brightmore

It was full steam ahead for Steve Nixon who combined a love of railways and running for a charity challenge.

He took part in races in locations known for their railway heritage in aid of East Cheshire Hospice.

Steve, from Tytherington, included the Bollington 10k and Macclesfield half marathon in his schedule to mark the 150th anniversary of a railway in Bollington.

The route between Macclesfield and Marple is now the Middlewood Way and this year’s Bollington Festival had trains as a theme in recognition.

Steve, a stalwart of the Macclesfield Model Railway Group, also ran marathons in Manchester and Liverpool in honour of the line which operated the world’s first steam locomotive.

His itinerary featured the Great North Run and the Kielder marathon in the north east, birthplace of Robert and George Stephenson, regarded as the ‘Father of Railways’ and whose home Steve has visited.

Steve, who has raised more than £600, said: “I’ve supported the Hospice many times before and thought it’d be good fun to link my runs with railway history. Stephenson’s Rocket is such an important part of engineering history and I’ve enjoyed model railways since I was a boy.

“I did nine long-distance events in six months and achieved personal best times for a marathon, half marathon and 10k, but most importantly raised money for a good cause.”

The father-of-three works across Europe as an interim executive so his training runs take him far and wide.

* To support Steve go to justgiving.com/fundraising/stevenixon2019

Fred Slater & the Dementia Companions

Posted on 16th January 2020 by Luke Brightmore

Cricket coach Fred Slater is completely bowled over by the way he has been welcomed into the fold at East Cheshire Hospice.

He became a volunteer in the Sunflower Centre a year ago and enjoys the company of people with dementia and their carers.

His next role as one of the charity’s Community Champions is a similar ‘buddy’ role in someone’s home, giving their carer vital respite for a few hours each week.

Fred, from Tytherington, said: “I’ve really enjoyed helping the Hospice. It’s so inspiring and I’ve learned so much from chatting to people within a group.

“It’s about finding out what makes individuals tick. You might get someone who doesn’t want to engage particularly, but you get a jigsaw out and suddenly they spring to life and they see the picture far better than me.

“The staff there are fabulous and I’ve learned so much. They’re so professional with their patience and caring approach and are the real unsung heroes of the service.

“We get a thorough background about who we’re looking after and in some ways I just fill around the edges.”

Fred, aged 66, worked for the English Cricket Board before retiring, but still coaches at King’s School, Macclesfield, and helps juniors at Macclesfield, Bollington and Ashley cricket clubs.

He regrets not taking his late father Fred to the Hospice for the sessions. “I didn’t know about the Sunflower Centre otherwise I’d have taken him there. He was an inspiration to me and now I’m retired this voluntary work is his legacy.

“Being matched with someone is an important small step for me on my journey and I’m looking forward to it.

“More than a dozen Community Champions visit homes but they don’t provide nursing care. They enjoy the company of individuals while their carers may go for a walk, shop or perhaps visit a library.

“The Sunflower Centre provides wonderful support and it’s re-assuring to know that expert staff are there as a safety net.”

Fred and fellow volunteers were finalists in the Volunteer Team of the Year at the 2019 North West Charity Awards.

Nepal Trek 2019

Posted on 16th January 202016th January 2020 by Luke Brightmore

One-time keen mountaineer Jonathan Edwards is undaunted by trekking in Nepal.

His biggest challenge since February has been avoiding alcohol in preparation for the 12-day trip starting on Saturday (Nov 9).

The medical writer is part of a five-strong group raising funds for East Cheshire Hospice.

Two days helping a hospice project in Kathmandu is followed by a tough five-day trek with stunning views of the Annapurna mountain range.

Jonathan, from Macclesfield, said: “My wife Verity saw the trip on the Hospice’s Facebook page and I’ve always wanted to visit Nepal, but was going to wait until my 50th next year.

“I enjoyed mountaineering before our children Molly and George were born so won’t be out of my comfort zone, but staying off alcohol has been difficult.”

He is fundraising in memory of Verity’s stepfather David White who died of prostate cancer last year and was cared for by the Hospice.

The family has raised £2,500, including £500 from a music night at the Wharf pub, supported by Macclesfield musicians, and Jonathan ran the Coniston half marathon.

At 70, Helen Connolly is the oldest hiker. Sister-in-law Sheila Kirk, from Prestbury, fundraises for the Hospice and alerted her to the trip via social media. Helen walked in Machu Picchu and Costa Rica several years ago.

Sherry Daniels, who ran a salon in Marton, enjoys mountaineering and is fundraising in memory of late friends, including Pip Roberts, a Hospice patient.

The party also includes Hospice staff members Sarah Dale and Louise Delany.

Dressing the Mayor!

Posted on 18th October 2019 by Luke Brightmore

Looking smart is vital for Coun Janet Jackson, especially with a full diary of engagements as Mayor of Macclesfield.

That is where the East Cheshire Hospice charity shop at Thornton Square helps out, supplying most of Janet’s outfits.

A navy and grey dress and matching jacket bought from there for only £25 was worn when she received her MBE from Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, in January.

The hat for that proud day at Buckingham Palace was another bargain at £10. The Mayor is a regular customer at the Hospice shop and a new winter coat is next on her list.

Coun Jackson said: “I’m always getting compliments on what I wear and delight in telling people that my clothes are from the charity shop.

“It’s a win-win situation as far as I’m concerned. You can find fantastic clothes at a really good price and are supporting a wonderful charity.

“East Cheshire Hospice need a tremendous amount of money every day to keep their service going, so anything anyone can do by going along to the shop and buying an item or two is all to the good.

“I attend an average of five functions a week and try to have a different outfit for almost every occasion.

“With the attention on climate change, I’m also a sustainable Mayor and helping the environment.

I’m helping the charities and my pocket too.”

Coun Jackson, Labour member for Macclesfield Central, recalls fondly her royal honour rewarding her long-standing service to the community.

The grandmother-of-three has been involved in politics for almost 30 years and has sat on numerous council and charity committees.

She is chair of the Friends of Macclesfield Silk Heritage and generations of her family have worked in the town’s silk industry.

“The Palace visit with my family was a memorable day. I couldn’t believe it when I found out I’d got the MBE because it doesn’t happen to people like me.”

The Thornton Square shop sells clothing for all ages, handbags, purses, wallets, travel bags, rucksacks, jewellery and accessories, furniture, electrical goods, kitchenware, ornaments, pictures and frames, toys, books and games.

Manager Nicolla Burgess said: “We’re delighted the Mayor is one of our loyal customers. We sell good quality items and our shop does extremely well in terms of donations and purchases. We’re looking for good quality furniture and do need help on the vans with collections.”

Art Fair 2019

Posted on 18th October 2019 by Luke Brightmore

Art Fair Cheshire comes to an end tomorrow (Thurs Oct 3) after a memorable week celebrating the region’s creative talents.

More than 80 artists and crafts experts have been exhibiting their work and selling art for East Cheshire Hospice at Macclesfield Town Hall.

The Mayor of Macclesfield Mayor Cllr Janet Jackson joined 300 guests at a special preview evening as Art Fair Cheshire marked its 20th anniversary.

Also there was Anna Rains who started the Art Fair in 1999 to raise funds for the creation of the Sunflower Centre at the Hospice.

She has been involved ever since, working tirelessly to ensure that Art Fair Cheshire continues to develop and support the Hospice.

Artist-led tours, guest speakers and workshops were among the highlights during the week. Each artist donates at least 40 per cent from sales to the Hospice.

It is the first edition for co-chairs Steven Dalton and Georgie Johnson who said: “Art Fair Cheshire moved in a new direction this year and we’ve been thrilled with the response.

“We’d like to thank all those who made it such a huge success, including artists, sponsors, volunteers and the public whose generosity will ensure we raise much-needed funds for the Hospice.”

Will Week – Home Appointments

Posted on 16th September 201916th September 2019 by Luke Brightmore

Home visits by solicitors during Will Week are still available, even though office appointments are now fully booked up in Macclesfield.

Blunts Solicitors and SAS Daniels no longer have vacancies during Will Week which runs from October 7-11 and is in aid of East Cheshire Hospice.

The solicitors are among 15 firms offering to write a single, or mirror will, in return for a donation to the Hospice.

Among them is Estate Planning Solutions who will visit people in the comfort of their own homes and provide the same service.

Kate Bowmar, the Hospice’s Corporate Fundraiser, said: “We’re on course for another highly successful Will Week and want to thank those who’ve already booked an appointment.

“We’d also like to stress that these home appointments are available to anyone in the community, not just those who may struggle to travel to their local solicitor.”

Estates Planning Solutions (tel: 01625 540033) has been nominated for a prestigious award at next month’s British Wills and Probate Awards.

Director Paul Dodsworth said: “We are very pleased to support East Cheshire Hospice during Will Week and are happy to offer home visits in Macclesfield and the surrounding areas.”

A full list of participating solicitors is available at eastcheshirehospice.org.uk/willweek19.

Solicitors will outline their usual fees and encourage supporters to donate a similar amount to the Hospice via a donation envelope for cash or cheques.

* For more details contact the fundraising team on 01625 433477.