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Are you brave enough to walk over fire and broken glass?

The challenge is issued by East Cheshire Hospice which has organised Fire and Ice Walk 2023.

The tea time event is on Thursday, November 9 at a location to be decided. Participants can do both challenges or just one.

The hot coals walk has been a fixture on the fundraising calendar, but now the glass element has been introduced.

Hot work … Jean Ham (left) and sister Denise Fraser-King at last year’s Firewalk.

Daredevils aged 16 and over can take part and experts will hold a full indoor safety briefing beforehand.

Hospice fundraiser Claire Gorton said: “Walking on burning embers has been a popular activity for Hospice fundraisers and now we’ve added the thrilling option to walk on glass.

“It’s the ultimate mind over matter challenge and for those scared by the prospect, this is the perfect chance to overcome nerves and defeat your fears.”

Participants will receive a t-shirt and certificate. The two walks are £50,  with a single entry £30.

Claire said: “The registration fee only covers the cost of the event so we urge supporters to raise additional sponsorship which will go directly towards caring for patients.

“It costs more than £7,500 to keep the Hospice running for one day, so every penny raised is important.

“You can be assured that the impact your support will have on local families who can benefit from Hospice services at one of the most difficult and emotional times will be huge and greatly appreciated.”

To sign up visit eastcheshirehospice.org.uk/events/fire-and-ice-walk/

One of the newest nurses at East Cheshire Hospice has become a video star.

Lucy Roberts features in a ‘Day in the Life’ film explaining what it’s like to work on the ward.

The five-minute story is being sent to businesses to promote the charity’s 500 Club in which members pledge to raise £500 a year.

The camera started rolling within weeks of Lucy starting her job in January, shortly after she qualified.

Nurse Lucy Roberts during filming for an East Cheshire Hospice video.

Lucy studied a two-year masters degree at Chester University after working in care homes and getting a degree in health care.

Lucy said: “I did a 12-week placement here and fell in love with the Hospice. I quickly realised I wanted to work here and nurses and health care assistants encouraged me to apply when a vacancy came up.

“I seemed to fit in, they knew me and I felt supported. Ward clerk Julia Wild then put my name forward when the video idea came up.

“I wasn’t sure I could do it at first but knew it’d be good experience and really enjoyed making the film away from my shifts.”

Lucy narrates the film, giving an insight into her job. She said: “If you ask a nurse what a typical working day is like they’d probably just laugh at you.

“No day is typical in the health care world. Every day is different.

Morning briefing… Lucy with one of the student nurses.

“Most people enter the nursing profession to help heal patients, but for me it’s an honour to care for patients with terminal illnesses so they can pass away comfortably surrounded by their family.

“My shift starts early at 7.30 am and can finish 14 hours later. Our building is light, airy, full of smiles with a feeling of being at home.

“It can be a really stressful time for families so when we welcome a new patient and their family to the hospice our aim is to take as much anxiety away as possible.

“A big part of my day is talking to patients and family members about the care we provide.”

* For more details on joining the 500 Club and to watch the video visit  eastcheshirehospice.org.uk/500-club

Email queries to lisa.ball@echospice.org.uk.

A security company has stepped forward to foil thieves who stole from East Cheshire Hospice.

The firm has installed a three-camera system at the charity’s shop on Chestergate which opened almost a year ago.

The company has asked to remain anonymous.

Volunteers Judith Bayley (left) and Joan Nadin at the Chestergate shop which has had security cameras fitted.

They immediately answered an appeal for help from the Hospice which became frustrated by sneak thieves who pinched goods during shop opening hours.

Designer menswear, cameras, perfume and candles were among items taken.

The Hospice now has CCTV installed thanks to the kind-hearted company who acted swiftly once they heard about the charity’s plight.

Hospice commercial manager Louise Delany said: “It was extremely generous of the company to come forward to offer this help.

“We now have a sophisticated camera security system in place which includes an intruder alarm and that should deter would-be thieves who will be caught on camera.

“The company insisted they didn’t want any recognition for their work. The owner just said ‘I think this is the right thing to do. I just want to help.’

“That’s unbelievably generous. They couldn’t do enough for us. The survey of the shop and installation was all done in the space of four or five days.

“I just don’t understand how people can steal items which our donors have so generously given to us. It baffles me to be honest.

“Thankfully, this story has a happy ending, showing the kinder side of human nature.”

The new chaplain at East Cheshire Hospice is no stranger to the charity.

Reverend Dr Marion Tugwood was a regular visitor to the Hospice in her role as minister at Macclesfield United Reformed Church.

Marion spent 10 years with the church and often provided pastoral care for patients at end-of-life and their loved ones.

Her first official duty in her new role was the Light Up a Life service at St Michael and All Angels Church in December.

She said: “The service took place two days after I started so I was thrown in at the deep end, but it went well and people seemed to value the time to reflect on the life of their loved one. The church was full for this moving occasion.

Reverend Dr Marion Tugwood, the new chaplain at East Cheshire Hospice.

“My brief is to look after the whole Hospice, so I’m here for volunteers, staff as well as obviously patients and their relatives.”

From 2018, Marion held a wider role assisting 12 churches, including Macclesfield, as part of a Missional Partnership for the United Reformed Church.

She said: “The role involved training and equipping churches to be more self-sufficient without relying on a single minister.

“It was about building skills and increasing people’s ability to evangelise and to work with their own communities.”

“My chaplaincy work is similar to what I did before as I’m using my worship leading skills. But in other ways it’s different as there is greater emphasis on pastoral care.

“I’m getting to know families, patient and staff and am delighted to be part of a charity which is so highly regarded in east Cheshire and beyond.”

“The atmosphere here is calm and peaceful. People aren’t rushed in the way they are in some other care settings.”

For the last seven years Marion has helped run 15th Macclesfield Sea Scouts Group.

She was a founder of the Street Angels project in Macclesfield, a church initiative set up 12 years ago.

She said: “The job of Street Angels is to bring calm. We’re out on Saturdays between 10.30 pm and 3 am and pick up people who’ve fallen over. We also give out flip flops and bottles of water to people who may be the worse for wear.

“We’re not the police and not the council and just hang out and interact with people enjoying themselves and having a good time.”

To find out more about chaplaincy and view upcoming services, events and news, please go to www.eastcheshirehospice.org.uk/spiritual-support.

East Cheshire Hospice is involved in a pioneering project aimed at providing patients from the LGTBQ+ community with better support.

The charity is one of the three Cheshire hospices benefitting from a £22,000 grant from Cheshire Freemasons, in partnership with Hospice UK.

St Luke’s, Winsford, and Hospice of The Good Shepherd, Backford, are also involved in the 12-month scheme.

The project improves accessibility to hospice services for LGBTQ+ people by ensuring support is fully inclusive and meets the needs of all patients.

LGBTQ+  development facilitator Ellen Coleman offers support and training for staff across the three hospices to improve their approach and make them more accessible.

Her role includes providing additional resources, making policy changes and ensuring databases and  paperwork are inclusive.

From left, Ellen Coleman with Kate Estcourt from St Luke’s Hospice and Simon Palfreyman, Harry Wright and Steve Simpson  from Cheshire Freemasons.

East Cheshire has also trained five champions to raise the level of staff knowledge around how best to support LGBTQ+ patients.

Ellen said: “The fact I’m hired purely to work on this project is quite a new thing and hopefully other hospices around the country will adopt a similar approach soon.

“Initiatives focused on equality, diversity and inclusivity are often combined with other roles in  many organisations in health care and social care settings.

“East Cheshire Hospice have fully embraced the project and part of my role is to deliver training so  when staff engage with patients, families and colleagues they are confident about using the right language. During recruitment the right questions must also be asked.”

Research by the charity Stonewall shows many LGBTQ+ people avoid accessing health and social care services due to a fear of discrimination, or a history of negative experiences.

Ellen said: “The three hospices in Cheshire want to remove this fear for LGBTQ+ people. The response has been fantastic and we aim to provide continuity after the initial 12-month project.”

Sarah Dale, Director of Quality, Innovation and Collaboration at East Cheshire Hospice, said: “We’re extremely grateful for this grant from Cheshire Freemasons, which will help members of the LGBTQ+ community who want to access our services feel like they have a safe, supportive, and welcoming space to do so.

“Palliative and end of life care is about having one chance to get it right, so it’s really important that people from all communities feel comfortable and are able to talk about everything that’s important to them, including their gender identity and sexuality.”

The grant from Cheshire Freemasons is through the Masonic Charitable Foundation, which is funded by freemasons, their families and friends, from across England and Wales.

Harry Wright, from Cheshire Freemasons, said: “I’m very pleased that we’re supporting this vital project which is working hard to help more members of the LGBTQ+ community feel like they’re welcome to access health services and support.

“Although it’s a great shame that there is still a need for this kind of work, I’m very glad that these three hospices are reinforcing their commitment to treat all patients with respect, regardless of their sexuality or gender.”