Walking 50km for our 50th birthday

In celebration of our 50th birthday this year, staff took on a 50-kilometer walking challenge to raise much-needed funds for the hospice.

By News Team on September 28, 2021

There were 23 staff taking part from all areas of the hospice, including nurses, clinical staff and social workers, and they were all kitted out in blue wigs and fancy dress for the walk to represent the charity’s brand colour. 

The group set off on Saturday 18th September from St Ann’s Hospice in Heald Green and they walked the 25km to St Ann’s Hospice in Little Hulton. The team stayed overnight near the Little Hulton hospice and then the next day they were back to the trail, walking another 25km to finish at the hospice in Heald Green and complete their 50km walk. 

They were welcomed back to the hospice on Sunday afternoon by family, friends and colleagues with banners and balloons and even our charity mascot, Stan the dog, was in attendance. Also, Stockport Mayor Councillor Adrian Nottingham and Mayoress Mrs Diane Nottingham stopped by to congratulate the walkers on their achievement. 

The past 18 months have been incredibly challenging for the hospice and staff, as demand for the services has risen while the usual fundraising events have been cancelled. Our amazing staff have been right there on the front line throughout the pandemic working so incredibly hard in really tough situations, I’m so proud of them all, they are true ‘hospice heroes’.  We’re hugely grateful to our staff who took on this fantastic challenge of walking between our two hospices, they did amazing and it was a great way to mark our golden year. Rachel McMillan, Chief Executive

Group of walkers outside St Ann’s Hospice in Heald Green with Stockport Mayor Councillor Adrian Nottingham, St Ann’s Hospice Chief Executive, Rachel McMillan and the charity mascot, Stan the dog.

Every day we see what a difference the hospice makes to our patients and loved ones. We rely on raising £20,000 a day to keep the hospice doors open. The ongoing impact of Coronavirus is still creating a challenge with hospice funding, many events can not yet be rescheduled and funds which last year supported with emergency income are not in place this year. Last year during the pandemic we got staff together to perform different ‘Tik Tok’ dancing challenges and we shared them on social media to raise funds for the hospice, raising nearly £3,000. As this year is the hospice’s birthday we wanted to go bigger and better, so we decided on this walk as we thought all staff could get involved and help raise much needed funds.  We’ve raised nearly £4,000 and we’re so grateful for everyone who supported us with this challenge to mark the hospice’s 50th birthday. Lynsey Ayers, Ward Sister

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