Category: Corporate

A 20-strong group from Chess ICT will be on the start line for the AJ Bell Great Manchester Run on Sunday, May 21.

Each runner is aiming to raise a minimum of £100, which would mean a donation of more than £4,000 for East Cheshire Hospice.

That is because Chess ICT, a technology services provider based in Alderley Edge, have promised to match fund up to £100 for each participant.

Runners include Grace Ingham, who is Head of People Support. Her mum Julie, from Tytherington, was the company’s first employee.

A team effort … Chess ICT staff with Hospice fundraisers. 

Julie, who died of cancer 10 years ago aged 51, was cared for by the Hospice.

Ever since Chess ICT has been a regular supporter of the Hospice, one of a dozen charities it supports.

The company will jointly sponsor t-shirts for the 10k run with Arighi Bianchi who have also entered a team.

Chess ICT CFO Mark Lightfoot and sales director Oliver Lofthouse are also taking part, along with Jessica Pollock, the chairman’s daughter.

Head of Culture Tim Wilkinson-Hall said: “We support the Hospice as much as possible because of how they supported Julie and her family. Julie was well known in our business and is remembered with great affection.

“We’re building up to the run by raising sponsorship. We donated Easter eggs and are holding quizzes and dress down days to raise funds and awareness.

“It’ll be a great day and now we’ve just got to make sure we’re all fit enough to get round the course.”

A business network group has given a warm welcome to East Cheshire Hospice by stepping up its fundraising efforts.

Members of BNI Silk were already long-standing supporters of the charity.

Now they are getting even more involved, with some taking part in two events in the same week at Capesthorne Hall.

They will tackle a Born Survivor obstacle course on Saturday, April 22, and the charity’s Starlight Walk on Thursday, April 27.

The Hospice is one of the newest recruits to the breakfast group which meets every Thursday, from 6.30 am.

Meetings are held online, with face-to-face gatherings once a month at Hollin Hall Hotel, Bollington.

BNI Silk has more than 20 members, including an electrician, builder, solicitor, web designer, marketing specialist and videographer.

Members of BNI Silk. From left, Ian Ellis, Arman Kizir, Kevin Cook, Joe Etherington, Lee Shore and Lisa Ball.

Mortgage adviser Lian Findler, a new vice president, said: “We’re a strong, close team and committed to helping each other.

“It’s a friendly group and has existed for many years. It’s great to have the Hospice as part of our team. They do amazing work and are vital to the area. We’re always looking at ways to help them.”

BNI Silk have two teams in a quiz in aid of the Hospice at Marlborough Primary School on Friday (March 24).

Lian’s company Mortgage Advice Bureau raised funds for the Hospice at a networking evening last year marking the firm’s 15th birthday and an office move to Tytherington.

The firm has also held a race night and a music festival in Pott Shrigley.

Another member of BNI Silk is Macclesfield company Jenny’s Blinds, set up in 1996.

Owner Steve Forrest, fitter James Pearson and admin assistant Dannii Hodgkins are taking part in Born Survivor.

Steve said: “As a business, we’d like to get more involved with the Hospice. It’s a  wonderful cause and our network group is keen to support fellow members as much as we can.”

Fellow member Diana Stephenson, who runs Calvin Marketing, is also taking part in the Starlight Walk.

She said: ‘The Hospice is such an important part of Macclesfield and it’s fantastic to know it’s there for anyone who needs its services.”

* To find out more about BNI Silk email lian.findler@mab.org.uk

For more details on Born Survivor and the Starlight Walk and other fundraising events visit www.eastcheshirehospice.org.uk

Staff at Arighi Bianchi are aiming to raise £10,000 as a thank you to East Cheshire Hospice for caring for lost loved ones.

Some 30 employees of the family-owned furniture business will take part in the AJ Bell Great Manchester Run on Sunday, May 21.

Among those running is accessory manager Cath Barlow, who met her late husband John working at Arighi Bianchi.

From left, Hospice fundraiser Bethan Wade, Arighi Bianchi’s Lucy Mather, Nick Bianchi and Cath Barlow and Hospice fundraiser Lisa Ball.

John, a van driver, died of bowel cancer a year ago and spent six weeks as a patient at the Hospice.

He was also landlord of the Ye Olde Kings Head, in the hamlet of Gurnett. One of the ales, Gurnett’s Glory, is named in his honour.

John completed the 10k in 70 minutes in 2015 and Cath’s goal is to match his time.

She said: “The Hospice were amazing looking after John and I can’t thank them enough.”

Cath is also remembering close friend Nicky Bradley, who died in 2021 and was also at the Hospice.

Accessory manager Cath Barlow who is taking part in the Great Manchester Run in memory of her husband John.  

Like Cath, Nicky was a long-serving employee at Arighi Bianchi, formerly managing the bed linen department.

Meanwhile, director Nick Bianchi will honour the memory of his uncle Tony, who was joint managing director of the landmark store for many years.

Tony died in 2017, aged 83, and was treated at the Hospice.

His grandad Antonio Bianchi, and his brother-in-law Antonio Arighi – both Italian immigrants – started the shop 169 years ago.

Arighi Bianchi will sponsor a Hospice stall in the charity village at the 10k run, with its team wearing yellow Hospice t-shirts.

Nick said: “We’ve been proud to support the Hospice since it opened its doors in 1988 and are delighted that it’s our official charity for the Run.

“The event is a wonderful way to foster a real sense of teamwork within our staff. We’ve got runners from various departments, from the cafe bar to the curtains, carpets, deliveries, marketing, sales consultants and administration.

“Arighi Bianchi and East Cheshire Hospice are two Macclesfield institutions. We’ve been here since 1854 and the Hospice has cared for family members and staff, including my uncle Tony. It’s also cared for our customers, so the Hospice is really personal to so many people.”

* To sponsor the Arighi Bianchi team visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/arighi-bianchi

To enter the Run to raise funds for the Hospice visit www.greatrun.org/events/great-manchester-run/

Staff at AstraZeneca continue to go to extraordinary lengths to support East Cheshire Hospice.

More than 250 of their employees raised £19,000 last year for the charity, with £15,000 of the total match funded by the company.

AZ also gave £3,000 to support Art Fair Cheshire and contributed the same amount to cover the cost of petrol and vans for the Christmas tree collection.

 AstraZeneca and Hospice staff at Art Fair 2022. From left, Kirrie Todd, Sophie Simpson, Rachel Allcock, Guy Camm, Dave Ennis, Lisa Ball, Karyn Johnston and Paula Postlethwaite.

AZ and its staff have donated £40,174 to the Hospice over a 12-month period.

Further good news for the charity is that AZ employees will retain the Hospice as a nominated charity for the next two years.

Hospice corporate fundraiser Lisa Ball said: “Yet again AZ and its staff have shown unbelievable support for the Hospice and we thank them for their kind generosity.

“AZ was a founding funder of the Hospice and we still have an amazing relationship with the company.”

Paula Postlethwaite and chef Karl Griffiths, from AZ caterers Sodexo, delivered a tasty hot pot lunch to Christmas tree volunteers.

Sophie Simpson, from ClubAZ, has also helped staff fulfil personal challenges, including fundraising during STEPtember. AZ also held several markets.

Guy Camm,  AZ’s Macclesfield Campus FM Development Manager, said: “We’re proud of our long-standing partnership with the Hospice and, of course, our staff who rallied to the cause in fantastic style in 2022.

“I’m sure that dedication will continue in 2023 through our support for several local charities, including the Hospice”

AstraZeneca representatives (from left) Paula Postlethwaite, Sophie Simpson and Guy Camm with Hospice staff Lisa Ball, Karyn Johnston and Rachel Allcock.