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Fallibroome Academy raise over £7,000 for East Cheshire Hospice

Posted on by Becky Sidwell

Fallibroome Academy has again earned top marks for its amazing support for East Cheshire Hospice.

The school raised £7,000 for the charity from its Jingle Jog before Christmas, bringing the total donated over the last eight years to an amazing £49,180.

The Fallibroome contribution helped raise £41,407 before Gift Aid from the Hospice’s latest Reindeer Rush in December. Some 29 schools were involved.

Under starter’s orders …students at Fallibroome Academy stage their Jingle Jog.

The Hospice has a special place in the hearts of everyone at Fallibroome after caring for one of the Academy’s late teachers.

Every pupil attending the last week of term defied bad weather to walk, run or jog round the athletics track at the nearby Everybody Macclesfield Leisure Centre.

PE teacher Lucy Bradley, one of four Academy community managers, said: “We hold several charitable initiatives in the year and the Hospice event is always our big one.

“We know of students’ parents and grandparents who’ve used the Hospice services, while students have also accessed its counselling services after relatives were treated there.

Head teacher Ross Martland in Santa outfit with Jennifer Dunn, assistant head of PE.   

“The Hospice ask students to raise at least £3 to cover the cost of envelopes and reindeer ears and we were astonished how much was donated. The average donation was probably £30.

“We thank everyone for their generous support. Parents and students appreciate what the Hospice does and why we need it.

“We hold assemblies for every year group to explain the different ways people use the Hospice. It is described as ‘a place where people come to live’ and we explain why to students.”

Hospice nurse team take on Trek Snowdon

Posted on by Becky Sidwell

Overnight shifts are part of the routine caring on the ward at East Cheshire Hospice.

So staying awake at night will come easily for nursing staff when they climb Mount Snowdon.

Finding the strength and stamina will probably be the biggest test on the nine-mile trek on August 2 and 3.

The Hospice team are inviting other supporters to join them raising funds for the Hospice.

Places can be booked via www.eastcheshirehospice.org.uk/events/trek-2025/

Snowdon walkers (from left) health care assistants Caroline Allen and Jill Harding with staff nurse Lesley Cork and ward sister Rachael Newton.  

Ward sister Rachael Newton will be joined by nursing colleagues Jill Harding, Caroline Allen, Sharon Doherty, Donna Paddock, Charlie Guerin, Dee Foster, Lucy Turnbull, Fiona Holmes, Linda Tronconi, Carly Forrester, Hannah George, Cheyanne Hanson, Clare Preston, Pippa Williams and Lesley Cork.

Jill said: “It’s great that so many of the nursing staff have committed to do the walk as a team. It should be good fun.

“Anyone is welcome to join us to support such a special place.

“Hospices are suffering financially and need all the help they can get. East Cheshire is such a lovely place to work.

“The relationships you build up in such a short space of time with patients and relatives is amazing.”

Jill is a prolific fundraiser and part of the What Women Want group which has raised £447,000 for the Hospice in 15 years. Their target is £500,000.

Separately, Jill has also undertaken a sky dive and wing walk for the Hospice which cared for her late mum Mary Barber more than 20 years ago.

Jill said: “Some challenges last a few days and are therefore quite time consuming whereas this one isn’t.

“I love walking. It’ll be challenge as my left leg is mostly metal after I had bone cancer at 17. I’ve always wanted to climb Snowdon.”

Experienced mountain guide leaders will assist trekkers on a walk described as ‘challenging’ by organisers.

Registration is £45 and a minimum of £330 must be raised in sponsorship.

Participants get a hot buffet at a Llanberis hotel before a 1 am registration, briefing and a 2 am ascent taking three to four hours.

Walkers will watch the sunset at the summit, or on the ascent, depending on their speed. Snacks are supplied before a well-earned breakfast on completion.

Head torches are supplied and a support vehicle. The same trail is used for a two-to-three-hour descent.

Excluded is travel insurance, alcoholic drinks and personal trekking equipment such as boots, poles etc.

Starlight Walk is back for 2025

Posted on by Becky Sidwell

The Starlight Walk at Capesthorne Hall will take place on Thursday, May 15, which is later than usual this year.

The East Cheshire Hospice spring walk is one of the Hospice’s flagship events, attracting hundreds each year.

Venue availability is behind the change, though organisers are hoping the later date will also improve the chances of better weather.

Ready to start the 2024 Starlight Walk.

An ‘early bird’ entry fee of £20 for adults and £15 for under 16s is available until March 15 before the price changes to £22.50 and £17.50.

Walkers will stroll through beautiful woodland on a 2.5k route, with the option to complete multiple laps if desired.

For many it is an emotional journey, giving them a chance to remember lost loved ones.

The walk has lighting, lanterns, fire pits, points of reflection and other features.

Walkers enjoying the fun at last year’s Starlight Walk.

Community and Events Fundraiser Claire Gorton said: “As the entrance fee only covers the cost of the event, we ask everyone to try to raise sponsorship of at least £50.

“Every penny raised makes a huge difference helping us to continue to provide care in the local community.

“Alternatively, if walkers would rather not raise sponsorship, they’re able to add an extra donation of £50 when booking a place.”

Gates open at 6 pm with the walk from 7 pm. There will be live entertainment with food and drink stalls.

Well-behaved dogs are welcome and there are no fireworks. The walk is not accessible for wheelchairs or pushchairs.

* To register visit www.eastcheshirehospice.org.uk/starlight-walk-2025.

Take on a challenge this year

Posted on by Becky Sidwell

Take your pick from a host of challenges near or far in aid of East Cheshire Hospice.

It could be a run or a walk, taking things at your own pace either as a team or individually.

A new addition to the Hospice fundraising calendar is Ultra Challenge which involves walking or running distances between 25 and 100 kilometres in locations such as the River Thames, Cotswolds, Lake District and the Peak District.

The aim is to appeal to all abilities and not just elite athletes.

A bungee jump in aid of East Cheshire Hospice.

 

There are also various events over shorter routes, beginning with a 5k or 10k run in Tatton Park on Sunday, February 8.

A bungee jump event is at Salford Quays on Saturday, February 22.

The Hospice has its popular Starlight Walk at Capesthorne Hall on Thursday, May 15, with the Great Manchester Run on Sunday, May 18.

Capesthorne is also the venue for Born Survivor, a muddy obstacle course on Saturday, April 26.

Battling mud in Born Survivor.  

Hospice fundraiser Luke Hughes said: “We’ve teamed up with Run For Charity and Ultra Challenge Series, online platforms which give our supporters access to a range of events to raise money for the Hospice.

“It’s a much easier way for us to promote events, reducing costs, logistics and the registration process.

“One exception to this partnership is, of course, our Starlight Walk, one of our flagship community events, which we’re proud to host again this year.”

Links to all events are on the Hospice website.

Joe Corrigan spoke of his proud links to East Cheshire Hospice

Posted on by Becky Sidwell

Joe Corrigan spoke of his proud links to East Cheshire Hospice when Manchester City fans celebrated his MBE.

The former goalkeeper mentioned the charity when receiving a rapturous reception in front of 53,000 fans at City’s home game with West Ham.

Big Joe, from Tytherington, received the award in the New Year’s Honours list for services to charitable fundraising.

His role as a Hospice patron includes supporting fundraising campaigns and visiting football-loving patients.

Joe made 603 appearances for City between 1967 and 1983 and made nine appearances for England. The honour took him by surprise.

He said: “Words can’t describe it – it was totally unbelievable and I’m still in a bit of state of shock.

“It’s just an amazing honour to even be considered. My first emotion was one of disbelief.

“It’s the highest honour you can get. I got the envelope and on the cover it said, ‘On His Majesty’s Service’, and at first I thought it was a tax bill!

“But then when I opened it and read the contents, I just filled up.”

Joe would visit fans in hospital with teammates in his playing days.

He said: “Now I’m in a position where I’ve got a little bit little bit more free time to be able to do more charitable things.

“I’m an ambassador for East Cheshire Hospice which is a huge honour and I’m also so proud to be chairman of City’s Former Players Association, where we raise and donate money to a host of charities.”

Ex Man City keeper Joe Corrigan, who has received an MBE.

East Cheshire Hospice was once again the big winner from a golf day at Prestbury

Posted on by Becky Sidwell

East Cheshire Hospice was once again the big winner from a golf day at Prestbury.

The team event was won by printers Sphere UK, one of many generous supporters who raised a bumper £14,502 for the charity.

Sphere held off the challenge of 16 other teams to lift the prestigious Mactex Trophy.

The event, which has been running for 36 years, is the flagship competition on Prestbury’s charity golf calendar.

From left, Luke Hughes, Carley Macey, Nick Bianchi, Victoria Devon, Amanda Cross, John Davies and Nigel Preston.

Organisers were the tireless duo of John Davies, Director of Mactex Properties Ltd, and ex-golf professional Nigel Preston, from Interflex.

John’s involvement goes back to the first tournament. He said: “We had to postpone the event to another day due to rain, but the wait was well worthwhile.

“I’d like to thank our main sponsors, estate agents Holmes Naden, and other businesses and volunteers who helped us raise such a magnificent total.

“Supporters included Amanda Cross from Sphere UK, Victoria Devon, Paul and Nick Bianchi and Claire Gorton, Carley Macey, Luke Hughes and Sarah Elvin from the Hospice.

“Prestbury Golf Club are always wonderful hosts, boasting top class facilities and a course which is one of the finest in Cheshire.

“The Hospice need to raise £9,362 a day so the contribution from the golf day is a welcome addition to its funds.

“We’re aiming to make our 2025 golf day another big success.”

Swift Tree Services help out East Cheshire Hospice

Posted on by Becky Sidwell

Every tree collected by East Cheshire Hospice volunteers this weekend (Jan 11-12) will be recycled for biomass fuel.

The Christmas trees will be transported to Adlington-based Swift Tree Services before they are taken to be turned into renewable energy.

This will be the third year of Swift’s involvement, with the tree specialists playing an increasing role – all at their own expense.

Swift machinery will be processing trees again ready for biomass fuel.

Most trees will still be mulched at the Ansa recycling depot at West Park by CRJ Services which will provide its resources for free as in previous years.

The mulch is then transported to the Swift site ready to start the biomass process.

Meanwhile, volunteers covering Poynton, Wilmslow and Bollington can take trees directly to Swift’s depot saving the journey to Macclesfield.

Swift will also send members of its seven-strong team to Disley to collect trees and chip them by the roadside.

Swift co-director Stephen Warner said: “Disley is a long way for the volunteers to go to back and forth and you don’t get many trees in a van to return to West Park.

Swift volunteers (from left) Adam Lawson, Stephen Warner and Ben Mason helping at last year’s collection.  

“We’ll look after Disley and by mobile-chipping can get it done in one trip.

“We wanted to be involved because broadly speaking it’s kind of what we do. We have trucks and woodchippers, we’re used to processing trees and it’s a brilliant charity to support.

“We offered our machinery and yard to see if we could help and it’s gone from strength to strength over a couple of years.

“Our location saves a lot of driving to West Park for mulching for some collections. They can bring the trees to us and we’ll chip them here.”

Woodchip is then sold for biomass fuel with proceeds donated to the appeal.

Stephen said: “It’s not mega money but the sale of woodchip will probably bring in between £1,500 and £2,000 to be added to the appeal and donated to the Hospice.

“It’s the 25th anniversary of the scheme and what co-founders Richard Raymond and Pete Chapman have achieved is incredible.

“Everyone knows about the Hospice’s wonderful work – we all know people whose loved ones have been cared for there.

“We’re delighted to be involved. Our team give their time for free, like all the volunteers.

“We only have a small role, but it’s lovely to be part of it. Community involvement is a hugely important part of our company culture.”

Overview of the year 2024

Posted on by Becky Sidwell

The new look Sunflower Living Well Centre welcomed its first patients to East Cheshire Hospice in April.

The facility’s opening was among many highlights during a memorable 2024 for the charity.

The then Lord-Lieutenant of Cheshire Lady Alexis Redmond MBE officially declared the centre open after a nine-month building project costing £1.3m.

Hospice staff at the reopening of the Sunflower Living Well Centre.

There to witness the ribbon-cutting ceremony were long-standing Hospice supporters Anna Rains, Thelma Jackson and Madge Slater whose fundraising exploits created the original Sunflower Centre in 2000.

The Starlight Walk returns in 2025 and is likely to prove just as popular as last spring’s event which attracted around 400 walkers.

A pink theme for staff from Mulberry ward, a specialist inpatient unit on Victoria Road, in memory of a colleague at the Starlight Walk.

Make a note of the date, Thursday, May 15, for the early evening stroll through the beautiful grounds of Capesthorne Hall.

The walk was one of countless events which included March through March and Squatober, both of which saw dedicated supporters going to great lengths to raise funds.

A papier mâché model of legendary Slade singer Noddy Holder was a star attraction at Art Fair Cheshire.

Noddy Holder with artist Patty Callaghan and her model of the singer.

Noddy liked it so much he commissioned another sculpture which has been raffled off for Hospice funds.

Artist Patty Callaghan created the artwork which shows Noddy with his guitar. Noddy and wife Suzan became Hospice patrons during the year.

Patients took a trip down memory lane when a dark green 1913 Model T Ford was taken to the Hospice.

Veteran car enthusiast Steve Nixon who ran along Hadrian’s Wall.

Owner Steve Nixon was happy to show off his veteran car as part of his support for the Hospice.

Steve, from Tytherington, even ran the length of Hadrian’s Wall to raise funds. He and wife Beverley took their 1903 Darracq on the London to Brighton Run.

Golfer Liz Stott played 72 holes during a marathon 13-hour game. Liz walked all the way round her local course at Tytherington on the longest day of the year.

Golfer Liz Stott with supporters.

Unfortunately, the cost of running the Hospice has gone up. It now needs to find £9,362 a day to keep its doors open.

That represents a near 25 per cent increase on the old figure of £7,500.

The new total, calculated on average costs over the last five years, excludes the 21 per cent of income received from government.

Energy bills have risen, along with staff wages, with the Hospice committed to matching NHS salaries. Equipment and building maintenance costs also went up.

The £7,500 figure excluded the charity’s Hospice @Home service which started in 2017.

The gift of a £10 note made years ago will lead to a £2m for Christmas Tree Collection

Posted on by Becky Sidwell

The gift of a £10 note made years ago will lead to a £2m windfall for hospices next month.

That is a conservative estimate of the amount some 160 hospices will raise from their various Christmas tree collections over a single weekend.

The roots of this incredible story stem from the Chapman family whose idea and dedication has benefitted East Cheshire Hospice over the last 25 years.

In 1998, Andy Chapman, then 14, was given a tenner along with fellow choristers at Prestbury Church. Their mission was to raise funds for a new church organ.

Co-founders Pete Chapman (left) and Richard Raymond at the collection last January.

Dad Pete said: “It was up to the choir what to do with the money – use it, lose it but try to do something wise with it, as in the Bible’s Parable of the Talents.

“My wife Heather had a brainwave. She suggested taking our Christmas tree and those of our neighbours to the tip on our big garden trailer.

“It would save mess in the car, the £10 could pay for diesel and we’d see what was raised.

Pete Chapman’s sons James (left) and Chris collecting trees with Caitlin Howarth in 2022.

“It was Heather’s idea – I was just the poor husband who had to implement it! We put leaflets through doors and the phone started ringing after Christmas.

“We also decided to support another charity, raising £370 for both the church fund and the Children’s Adventure Farm Trust. My employers Barclays match-funded donations.

“A Wallace and Gromit notebook contained random addresses and we drove round Bollington and Prestbury with our four sons strapped in the back of the car.

“The idea took off. People couldn’t believe how much we raised and I thought ‘we’re onto something here.’

“The next year Richard Raymond pitched up with a company truck and we advertised it more widely, collecting more trees.

“Chorister John Nichol knew the area like the back of his hand and helped with routing and mapping.

“John suggested supporting the Hospice on an ongoing basis. His mother had been a patient and the team were right behind him.

“We had lots of enthusiastic support and since then it’s grown every year. Other hospices started to catch on and we’ve encouraged them.

“I can’t believe it’s been 25 years since the hospice became the sole beneficiary. It’s flown. I can’t believe where we’ve come from and got to.

“It’s beyond our wildest dreams. It’s amazing to think that well over £2m will be collected in one weekend across the country, involving more than 2,000 volunteers.”

Local customers have loyally supported Christmas Tree Collection for 25 years!

Posted on by Becky Sidwell

Dozens of customers have loyally supported the Christmas tree collection throughout its 25-year association with East Cheshire Hospice.

They are among more than 6,000 subscribers who will hopefully register again for the next collection on January 11 and 12 via www.echtrees.org.uk

The deadline is midnight on Tuesday, January 7.

Volunteers prepare for the 2020 tree collection.

Meanwhile, some of the 278 volunteers on the scheme’s database have helped since almost the start.

Co-founders Richard Raymond and Pete Chapman have overseen major changes over the years.

Pete said: “We’re a lot more advanced these days with hi-tec routing, mapping, social media and online payments.

“People had to put money in a plastic bag on trees until a few years ago. They also register online, whereas it used to be phone calls and messages.

“A van can now collect up to 200 trees a day, twice as many as before.”

Pete’s son Andy, an occupational therapist, introduced spreadsheets using Microsoft Works as part of a school project while studying IT.

The advent of green wheelie bins saw a potential threat become an opportunity.

Recycling trees at West Park depot.

Macclesfield Council backed the scheme, advertising on bins rather than encouraging homeowners to use them to recycle trees.

Crucially, other hospices tap into Pete and Richard’s expertise. Pete said: “We’ve documented everything we do, building a database accessed by more than 50 hospices. We collaborate and want everyone to run a successful collection.

“It means the system will live forever. Richard and I can’t do it forever, so we’ve created a library to hand on to our successors.

“We must thank our supporters, including local businesses, a lot of whom want to give anonymously.

“It means a lot to me that we also help volunteers whatever their physical ability. We’ll always find a role for them.

“We don’t just bring income to the Hospice. We also raise awareness in the local community, drawing in volunteers, encouraging recycling and attracting young people to the Hospice.

“There are more benefits than we ever dreamt of. The Hospice know year on year they’re going to get this money from the collection.

“It has done a fantastic job setting up Hospice @Home and we’d like to think we’ve played a small part by raising awareness of the Hospice.

“No-one had ever thought of a tree collection until we did – it came from one spark of a great idea. The scheme’s success gives us enormous pride.”

* Organisers still need large vans for the forthcoming collection. To help, contact 01625 433477 or email luke.oldham@echospice.org.uk

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