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Second Lockdown at the Hospice

Posted on by Luke Brightmore

Bedside visits to patients at East Cheshire Hospice are still being allowed during the new national lockdown.

There are already limited restrictions in place for visitors to the inpatient unit and these will continue over the four-week period.

The Hospice will also carry on with limited outpatient services at the Sunflower Centre, while the Hospice @Home service continues as normal.

Hospice shops at Thornton Square, Wilmslow and Poynton have closed until the lockdown ends on December 2, although online sales will continue via the shops’ Facebook pages.

Volunteers will continue to work on reception and staff will work from home where possible.

Meanwhile, the fundraising Firewalk event has been postponed from last Friday (Nov 6) to Friday 5th February 2021.

The Christmas tree collection will still go ahead on January 9/10 while complying to government restrictions.

Income Generation Director Rachel Allcock said: “We thank everyone for their patience and understanding during these difficult times.

“We will continue to deliver our services and will monitor the situation daily. If there is a change we will adapt accordingly to ensure we operate in a way that meets all Covid safety requirements. Our priority is the care of our patients in a safe and secure setting.”

The Hospice has not been able to hold a fundraising event since the last Christmas tree collection in January. A terrific community response has eased the financial strain and the hope is that the public will continue to support the Hospice during this latest lockdown.

Rachel Allcock, Income Generation Director at East Cheshire Hospice.

Rose and Peter Prepare for Firewalk

Posted on by Luke Brightmore

Rose Brocklehurst is guaranteed a warm reception when she returns to East Cheshire Hospice in a couple of weeks.

Not only because Rose once worked there, but also because she faces the daunting prospect of a Firewalk.

Rose and husband Peter have both agreed to take part in the challenge on Friday, November 6, starting at 7 pm.

Rose and Peter Brocklehurst who are undertaking a Firewalk.

They are raising funds in memory of Liz Brown whose husband Greg works at the farm they own near Congleton.

Greg, from Macclesfield, took part in the last Firewalk two years ago, shortly after Liz died at the Hospice, aged 38.

Liz and Greg Brown.

Rose and Peter were there to support him so know what to expect. Rose said: “We saw the flames turn into hot coals so watched the process and thought we’ll do it next time.

“I worked at the Hospice for nearly 20 years initially as a nurse and then as a complementary therapist so have first-hand experience of its role within the community and how it needs funds.”

Peter said: “We’re both fascinated by the challenge and I’ve seen people doing it before in India on television. We thought it’d be nice to raise money in Liz’s memory.”

To sponsor them visit justgiving.com/fundraising/rosemary-brocklehurst1

* There are still spaces at the Firewalk which is streamed live from Millbank Drive due to Covid-19, limiting spectator numbers. Safety briefings will be given online.

Visit eastcheshirehospice.org.uk/events/firewalk/. The £30 registration fee covers the cost of the event and additional sponsorship goes directly towards Hospice care.

 

From Pilates to Memory Miles

Posted on by Luke Brightmore

Friends who met through a pilates class several years ago put themselves through their paces again to help East Cheshire Hospice.

Carol Rayner, Dale Thomas, Sue Priestley, Maxine Seddon and Carol Palin wanted to lift the gloom around Covid-19.

That was partly why they were inspired to walk or cycle almost 1,100 miles, raising £750 for the charity.

The group took part in a Memory Miles event in which Hospice supporters undertook different challenges, some in memory of loved ones.

The charity’s initial aim of travelling 874 miles from John O’Groats to Land’s End was beaten early in the two-month campaign.

So the destination was changed to the Sahara Desert – an extra 2,470 miles – which is where the Hospice is actually organising a trek late next year.

Memory Miles, sponsored by Sidney Jackson and Son, has raised £5,420 with the pilates group covering the furthest distance from the combined efforts of fundraisers.

Carol Rayner said: “When we saw the Memory Miles event we all embraced the opportunity to help a local and vital charity and, in doing so, have gained a feeling of doing something positive at a time when it’d have been easy to dwell on all the negativity around Covid-19.

“We’ve all found that having something to aim for has lifted us individually too. I’ve personal experience of assisting in the care of a loved one until end-of-life at home.

“This happened during lockdown, otherwise a place at the Hospice would have been applied for. This experience made me realise what a vital service it provides.

“We pledged initially to raise £200 and walk 50 miles each.  I also pledged to cycle 250 miles and we  quickly exceeded in both our pledges.

“We’ve covered most of the distance individually because it was difficult to walk together regularly because of commitments.

“Each team member reports their daily distance to me on our group chat and I’ve kept a spreadsheet. We’ve encouraged and praised each other along the way and have all enjoyed the challenge.”

*Donate to the Memory Miles campaign at memorymiles.eastcheshirehospice.org.uk

From left, Carol Rayner, Dale Thomas, Sue Priestley, Maxine Seddon and Carol Palin.

Emayoga Class and Ryan Giggs’ Message

Posted on by Luke Brightmore

Yoga teacher Emma Hall is holding a virtual one-hour Zoom class on Saturday, June 27, from 9 am as her way of helping East Cheshire Hospice.

All proceeds will go to the Hospice which treated her friend Sarah Shackleton-Lamptey who died of breast cancer in 2014, age 36.

All abilities are welcome to join the yoga class and participants will be charged £5, with the option to donate more.

Yoga teacher Emma Hall.

Emma has taught yoga for five years, although it has been part of her life for 26 years.

Clients, including a number of large north west companies, have been joining her classes online during lockdown.

The mother of four sons said: “These yoga classes are designed to be accessible for anyone – of any age, flexibility, or ability level.

“So if you’re new to yoga, or looking for a greater challenge, then hopefully you’ll join the classes and raise money for a great cause.”

* To sign up visit eastcheshirehospice.org.uk/events/emayoga-live.

 

Meanwhile, ex-Manchester United star Ryan Giggs has sent a message of support for a fundraising campaign by Sarah’s husband Carl Lamptey.

Giggs said: “We need your support more than ever during these difficult times so please support the Hospice.”

Former City players Joe Corrigan and Michael Brown have also added their names to the appeal which has raised over £15,000 alone through Carl’s Just Giving page.

* To support Carl visit justgiving.com/fundraising/carl-lamptey6.

Lbs 4 £s Success

Posted on by Luke Brightmore

Banana and blueberry Belgian waffles – just one of the tasty treats served up during an East Cheshire Hospice health drive.

Sharing recipes, weight loss tips and new walking routes were all part of Lbs 4 £s, the Hospice’s 12-week fitness programme.

The initiative has raised £2,055 so far with the waffles earning Emma Machin the award for the tastiest looking breakfast.

Natalie Catterall raised £570 and shed almost two and a half stones after giving up chocolate, crisps, biscuits and cakes.

Natalie, whose late mum Hilary Woolliscroft was a Hospice patient, was not even tempted by a tipple of her favourite G and T.

Natalie Catterall and her late mum Hilary.

Natalie, a school business manager, said: “Dieting wasn’t easy but I didn’t veer from it and the fact I was raising money for the Hospice kept me on the straight and narrow.

“I had made the commitment and didn’t cheat and our group really enjoyed sharing experiences and tips via Facebook.

“I would get out of breath going up the stairs, but feel so much better now. It’s given me confidence to go to the gym and I might run a half marathon next year. I’ve completed a garden project with a lot of manual labour and couldn’t have done that before.”

Karen Hodkinson won the award for the most social media posts about her journey.

Hospice Events Assistant Bethan Wade said: “The aim was to lose weight, eat more healthily, improve fitness and well-being, or simply support the Hospice and everyone supported each other.”

Stay In And Go All Out!

Posted on by Luke Brightmore

Running, cycling, baking, dancing or singing…examples of activities that will help East Cheshire Hospice during the virus crisis.

The Hospice is urging the public to join its Virtual Challenge – which has the slogan ‘stay in and go all out’ – as it tries to raise £1m.

Individuals and groups are encouraged to visit its website eastcheshirehospice.org.uk/virtual-challenge to register their own fundraising challenges for his new initiative.

The appeal is being made amid the Covid-19 pandemic which will result in lost revenue of around £1m for the Hospice from cancelled events.

Action from last year’s Splash Out which is one of the fundraising events cancelled by East Cheshire Hospice.

Events Assistant Bethan Wade said: “We realise it’s a difficult time for everyone, but with time on their hands our Virtual Challenge is a simple and easy way to raise money for the Hospice.

“It could be a run round the garden, baking a cake, or even a London to Paris bike ride for anyone who might have an exercise bike and can perhaps build their daily outdoor exercise into the journey.

“There are many ways of raising money and it doesn’t have to be a sports activity. For instance, it could be a karaoke session, a danceathon or a quiz.”

Bethan Wade, Events Assistant at East Cheshire Hospice.

Community Fundraising Manager Carley Macey is organising the first Hospice Virtual Quiz on Friday, April 17, (7.30 pm) and has set up a Virtual Balloon Race this weekend.

Balloons, costing £3 each, are launched from Jerusalem on Easter Sunday and the one which travels the furthest in a straight line in a week wins £500. Second prize is an Apple iPad and 10 runners up each collect £10 book tokens.

Balloons will follow a simulated flight pattern based on the actual weather during the race. Supporters can buy as many balloons as they wish and the leading 100 balloons can be tracked via the race homepage. Enter at www.eastcheshirehospice.org.uk/events/easter-virtual-balloon-race

The Hospice had received more than £40,000 in donations in the first 10 days since it was forced to cancel its fundraising events.

Bethan said:  “We’ve had an amazing response so far, but this total is just a fraction of the revenue we’ve lost. The virus has had a major impact on the Hospice but we know the community will get behind us.”

Patient care is unaltered thanks to dedicated nursing staff and healthcare assistants who are using tablets and phones to link up patients as family visits are now severely restricted.

Hospice Events on Hold

Posted on by Luke Brightmore

East Cheshire Hospice has called off several major fundraising events because of the Coronavirus outbreak.

Activities have either been postponed or cancelled, leaving the charity without the funds on which it normally relies.

Next month’s Light Up The Night memory walk at Adlington Hall is one of the casualties and has been put back until Friday, September 11.

This year’s Splash Out event scheduled for July has been cancelled altogether.

Splash Out action from 2019. This year’s event has been cancelled.

Meanwhile, the charity’s Spring Ball which was on Friday (March 27) has been delayed to a future date.

Organisers will wait to confirm whether Tough Woofer at Capesthorne Hall on Sunday, October 18, goes ahead.

Hospice event organisers said: “Unfortunately, due to the current situation and Government advice, some of our important fundraising events have had to be cancelled or postponed.

“This is the last thing we want to do as so much hard work and organisation goes into these events and, of course, the money raised through them is essential in keeping the doors of your local Hospice open.

“However, the safety and well-being of our patients, staff, volunteers and our community is the highest priority and with this in mind we’ve had to make changes.”

Registrations for postponed events will be valid for the new date.

Those unable to attend, or who have registered for a cancelled event, are asked to consider leaving the money to the Hospice as a donation. Refunds are available via events@echospice.org.uk.

Light Up The Night’s NEW LOCATION!

Posted on by Luke Brightmore

We are reminding supporters that the venue for Light Up The Night has changed this year.

Our popular memory walk will be staged at Adlington Hall instead of Capesthorne Hall, venue for the last six years.

* From left, Nicky Holmes, Ollie Stubbens, Georgie Vaughan and Toby Beesley at the 2019 Light Up The Night.  

The event will be held on Friday, April 24, starting at 7 pm.

An Early Bird offer of £16 for adults and £11 for children (aged up to 18) has been extended until Thursday, March 19.

The dusk-time woodland walk, sponsored by Ford dealers Sidney Jackson, is over a one-kilometre course.

Participants can complete the route as often as they wish before 9 pm.

* Army Cadets who acted as marshalls at last year’s Light Up The Night walk.

Events Manager Beth Candy said: “We’ll have the usual music, entertainment and refreshment stalls and this year there’s a few additions to the evening, including our Memory Tree.

“Bring a picture or momento with you that you can tie to our Memory Tree along with a special message for a beautiful tribute to those we love but are no longer with us.”

Gates open at 6 pm and walkers can also take decorated lanterns, or collect them from the Hospice on the evening.

* For more details visit eastcheshirehospice.org.uk/events/light-up-the-night/

 

Anna Rains

Posted on by Luke Brightmore

Grandmother Anna Rains has moved home an incredible 46 times, living on boats, a converted bus, in a caravan and a haunted Cheshire farmhouse.

Her nomadic lifestyle is long gone and she is a permanent fixture at Art Fair Cheshire which she set up in 1998.

Anna was chair of the Hospice 10th Anniversary Fundraising Appeal to build the Sunflower Centre. Her team raised £300,000 and one of her ideas was to hold an Art Exhibition.

Friend Liz Taylor-Webb, mentored by L.S. Lowry, was the first artist Anna asked to exhibit.

A signed print of a painting by HRH Prince Charles fetched £3,000 at auction at that first Fair. Overall, nearly £400,000 has been donated to the Hospice.

Anna said: “I’ve moved into the background now and love talking to the artists.  A new generation have taken over successfully and I’ve spent a lot of money over the years on artwork.

“With dedicated helpers, I’ve made thousands of canapes since the first exhibition.  We handed out about 1,500, which flew off the plates, at the last Art Fair.”

Anna has lived locally since 1983 and still helps the biennial exhibitions.

She has seen tremendous changes and professional advancements.  “I’ve always enjoyed art, especially traditional work, but I’m a better writer than an artist.”

She wrote a book entitled Will You Take the Dogs or the Diamonds? chronicling her life and family history.  The title was inspired by a remark between her grandparents before a long train journey.

Anna Rains with the book about her life.

“The book is about my mad family.  My mother was pretty eccentric.  She sent me off with a one-way ticket to Hong Kong, waving goodbye and telling me to go and see the world.  I was 19 then.

“Born in London, we moved to Wales when I was three weeks old to escape the War and moved into a remote cottage without sanitation, running water or electricity.  Wishing to travel to Sussex, my parents bought a bus.  I was four and we were moved on by the police because we weren’t bona fide showmen.

“Joining a funfair and a circus sorted that and we put posters up at night on other people’s properties.”

In 1969, Anna moved to California at the height of hippies and flower power. “My life hasn’t always been easy – but it has been interesting,” said Anna, who was convinced she shared one of her homes with a ghost.

Anna Rains at last year’s Art Fair.

Sidney Jackson Ford Continue Their Support

Posted on by Luke Brightmore

Well known family business Sidney Jackson & Son Ltd is celebrating its centenary year by once again showing support for East Cheshire Hospice.

The car dealership is sponsoring two of our major fundraising events – the Light Up The Night memory walk and Spring Ball.

The company has operated from the same location in Butley, near Macclesfield, since it was established in 1920.

Back then it sold tractors to the local farming community before adding a coach service and garage repairs.

In 1955 it became a Ford car dealership and under Jimmy Jackson – Sidney’s son – the company went on to sell thousands of cars.

Jimmy died in 2014 and the family tradition is being maintained by his son Tim, now the company MD.

From left, Company Accountant Steve Sandiford,  Jimmy Jackson and General Manager Liam Riley pictured in 2013.

Light Up The Night will be held at Adlington Hall, a short drive from the car showroom, on Friday, April 24, from 7 pm. The company is sponsoring the event for the fourth year.

Liam Riley, General Manager at Sidney Jackson, said: “Jimmy was always a proud supporter of East Cheshire Hospice and we knew also from many of our customers the importance of the charity to our community.

“Our business shares that compassion and commitment and are delighted to support the charity again.”

Jimmy was a parish councillor in Prestbury for 35 years, working hard to preserve the village’s architecture, beauty and sense of community.

His wife Thelma was the last Mayor of the Borough of Macclesfield in 2008 and is a big Hospice supporter.

Light Up the Night has an Early Bird offer of £16 for adults and £11 for children (aged up to 18)  available until Friday, March 13.

* For more details visit eastcheshirehospice.org.uk/events/light-up-the-night/

Tickets are still available for the Spring Ball in a marquee at Alderley Edge Cricket Club on Friday, March 27.

Tickets cost £70 each, or £700 for a table of 10. This includes a welcome drink on arrival and a three course meal. The event starts at 7 pm, with carriages at 1 am. Dress code is black tie.

* Go to eastcheshirehospice.org.uk/events/springball20/ or call 01625 433477 or email events@echospice.org.uk.

Kate Bowmar, Corporate Fundraiser at the Hospice, said: “We’d like to thank Sidney Jackson for their continued support and wish them every success in their centenary year. They are very much part of the fabric of the community like the Hospice.”

Jimmy and Sidney Jackson outside their original two-car showroom. Their first cars were a Ford Popular and a Zephyr.

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