Fundraising Archives - Page 31 of 64

Recycle your Christmas Tree for St Ann’s

December 17, 2020 | 7:17am

Get organised this Christmas and take advantage of a special Christmas tree recycling service this year, which will not only help take away the headache of disposing of Christmas trees once the festivities are over, but will also raise money for local people with cancer and other life-limiting illnesses.

National charity, JustHelping, is organising Christmas tree collections in local areas to raise money for charities including St Ann’s Hospice.

Trees will be collected by volunteers between 14th and 17th January, and trees can be registered at www.charityxmastreecollection.com along with a voluntary donation. The real Christmas trees are recyclable and are shredded into chippings to be used locally in parks and sports clubs.

The collections have been run by community volunteers, sponsors, and donors for more than eight years, with our hospice receiving 80% of the net proceeds. The 2020 collection raised over £30,000 for the patients and families that we care for.

Fiona Cosgrove from JustHelping said: “It’s really exciting that we’ve been able to raise such a huge amount of money for charities like St Ann’s in previous years, and we’re hoping we can do even better this time around.

“It’s fantastic that we’re able to bring people together to raise money for such fabulous causes, and of course, the fact that the trees we collect are recycled is also good for the environment – not to mention that it takes away the headache of disposing of the tree from local people too.”

The tree collections will be taking place in the postcode areas SK2, SK3, SK4, SK5, SK6, SK7, SK8, M20, M21, M22, M27, M30, M32 and M33, WA14, WA15. Those wishing to have their tree collected can sign up online.

2020 has been a difficult year for all of us, and at the hospice, our teams have been working incredibly hard to make sure that our patients and their loved ones have been able to access the specialist care and support they need. We’ve only been able to continue to provide – and indeed expand – our services to meet the changing needs of patients during the pandemic thanks to the incredible support of people in our local community. They’ve truly meant we can keep our doors open. The JustHelping tree collection initiative is a fantastic example of local people coming together in support of others, and the real community spirit that comes from that too. We’re hugely thankful to the team there, the army of volunteers who support them, and everyone who makes a donation, and would encourage anyone that lives in one of the eligible postcodes to sign up. It will help ease the post-Christmas tidy-up, and will also make a huge, huge difference to the lives of local people who really need your support. Thanks so much.

Rachel McMillan, Chief Executive

Book your Christmas Tree Collection Today

Get organised and help support St Ann’s this Christmas!

Book your collection today

75-Miles for St Ann’s

December 17, 2020 | 7:07am

Keen cyclist, Alan Dupre, has raised £1,596.10 for St Ann’s after taking on a 75-mile cycling challenge, ending in the Peak District.

Alan, 49, who lives in Gatley took on the challenge following the impact of Covid-19 on charities across the UK. While he has never had any personal experience of our services, he has had friends who have links to the hospice.

Alan said: “I know that all charities have been badly hit by funding and although I’ve not had any personal experience of a relative using St Ann’s, I know those who have and they cannot speak highly enough of the care received.”

Before the challenge, Alan had raised £750 plus gift aid, but this number quickly grew with ‘on the road’ donations with Alan collecting £48.05 on his bike ride. The donations were also doubled by Alan’s employer, insurance company CHUBB, who pledged to match funds up to £1,000 for the challenge.

The challenge took around nine hours to complete, due to one puncture and lots of people stopping to donate and ask about his bike – the Elliptigo, a specialist stand up bike with no seat which has a motion similar to a cross-trainer, one of around 300 in the UK. Throughout the trip, Alan proudly wore a St Ann’s t-shirt that attracted many supporters, some even stopping their cars to donate.

Alan went on to say: “I wanted this to be a tough challenge and at the end I was absolutely shattered but the weather was incredibly good, which made the ride really enjoyable.”

At the end of the challenge, Alan was welcomed by local bar in Gatley, Babita, who had helped with promoting his ride, enjoying pizza and drinks to celebrate.

What a phenomenal challenge. Thanks so much Alan for all of your amazing efforts. It’s been a really tough year with many of our fundraising events and activities having to be cancelled due to the pandemic, so support like this really does mean we can continue to keep our doors open and care for patients. Thanks a million to everyone who donated in support of Alan’s challenge, and we hope that he’s had time to put his feet up and have some very well-earned rest too.

Rachel McMillan, Chief Executive

Take on your own Challenge

Help support #TeamStAnns by hosting your own fundraiser!

Find out more here

Union Tavern support St Ann’s in memory of mum

December 10, 2020 | 7:00am

Healthcare assistant Ann Grayson worked at St Ann’s Hospice in Little Hulton – and also died there as a patient in 2006. The hospice meant a lot to her, something her son Carl has always remembered.

Last year he grew a moustache as part of the Movember campaign, raising £500 in the process, and this year got a clean shave to do it all again. Regular Trevor Norton joined him for the challenge at the Joseph Holt pub.

The Union Tavern has been run by the Grayson family since 1985, Carl’s dad Danny having been landlord for many years.

Carl, who has older sisters Julie and Joanne, said: “I remember as a child going to St Ann’s to meet my mum and when she was a patient she was cared for by colleagues who knew her from her days working there.

“Mum was only 64 when she died and the care she received was excellent. I want to thank everyone who‘s made donations to support such a fantastic charity.”

We’re hugely grateful to Carl, his family and all of the regulars at the Union Tavern for their amazing fundraising efforts for our patients. It’s so humbling to hear Carl’s kind words about St Ann’s and the care his mum received. We really appreciate everything they’re doing to support us, especially at this really difficult time when lots of our fundraising events and activities have been cancelled due to the pandemic. Thanks so much for your support.

Rachel McMillan, St Ann’s Chief Executive

Could your business support St Ann’s?

Get your business and employees involved in our brand new corporate challenge and help raise vital funds for our hospice.

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Blacksticks Restaurant Raises Vital Funds for St Ann’s

December 3, 2020 | 7:20am

A restaurant in Monton, which had a St Ann’s collection tin stolen during lockdown, has been overwhelmed by the generous response from the public.

Blacksticks has received donations from loyal customers and strangers after its charity box was taken while the restaurant was closed.

The tapas bar and grill, in Monton, Eccles, has also donated £1.50 from every dessert ordered from its takeaway menu during lockdown to our hospice.

A CCTV image of the thief reached than 175,000 social media users and stung the public into action after several hundred pounds worth of damage was also caused to the property on Monton Road.

Steve Kelsall, from Blacksticks, said:

The reaction was phenomenal and we had passers-by and customers making donations. We want to thank everyone for their goodwill – it shows there’s still a great sense of community spirit. Out of bad comes good and we’ve hopefully more than made up for money that was stolen. The staff felt guilty that the collection tin was taken but I think we’ve made amends. We donated profits from desserts and have so far raised around £185. These are hard times for people who haven’t got a lot of money and it shows the affection for St Ann’s.

Steve Kelsall, Supporter

The Blacksticks takeaway service has been thriving since the first lockdown in March.

Steve said:

We’re relieved to have kept the business going during these difficult times and at one stage delivered meat packs to the vulnerable which also kept our suppliers in work.

Steve Kelsall, Supporter

The generosity of the public and the team at Blacksticks following this crime has been so heart-warming, especially at the moment when times are so difficult for everyone. We really appreciate all of the support everyone is giving the hospice, and the money raised really will make a difference. Our fundraising activities have been seriously affected by the pandemic, and we’re hugely grateful to everyone who is thinking of us at this time. The support of our local communities really has meant we’ve been able to keep our doors open and continue providing care for local patients when they need us most

Rachel McMillan, Chief Executive

If you would like to make a donation to our hospice, then please visit our donation page here.

Christmas lights switch on for St Ann’s

December 3, 2020 | 7:15am

It is going to be a sparkling Christmas for friends and neighbours of the Buckley household who have decorated the outside of their semi-detached home on Darley Avenue in Chorlton with a dazzling show of festive lights.

Kevin and Carla Buckley even play Christmas music for an hour when they switch on their three-hour illuminated display at 6 pm each evening.

The kind-hearted couple wanted to lift spirits after the recent death of a neighbour who was a patient at our Heald Green hospice.

Kevin, an assistant manager at McDonald’s in Stockport, is already well on the way to raising £500 for the charity via Facebook and a collection box by his front gate.

He said:

We wanted to cheer up the street after losing one of neighbours who was looked after by St Ann’s. The lights are a nod to him really. We’ve had Christmas decorations before, but this time it’s massive by comparison and it’s the first time we’ve raised money for charity. I love Christmas and would celebrate it from January the 1st. Christmas is a time of year when everyone’s a bit nicer. Hopefully, the lights put a smile on people’s faces and that’s something we all need during these times. The neighbours love the lights and we’ve also had many nice comments and donations from passers-by. It took a week to put them up and the decorations are mostly mine, though I did have some donated by Altin Homes.

Kevin Buckley, Supporter

Daughter Amelia-Grace’s favourite item is a sleigh and reindeer made by her granddad Michael, a woodwork enthusiast.

Kevin spent last Christmas feeding the homeless after cycling 300 miles across Madagascar in 2019 in aid of the Ronald McDonald charity.

Rachel McMillan, Chief Executive of St Ann’s, said:

Wow, what an amazing festive display, and such a kind and thoughtful way of raising money for our patients in honour of Kevin and Carla’s neighbour. We really appreciate their support and thank everyone who has made a donation. After such a difficult year for everyone, it’s so humbling to see the fantastic support our hospice has received from people in our local communities. We really couldn’t carry on caring for our patients without you, so thank you so, so much.

Rachel McMillan, Chief Executive

To donate to Kevin’s St Ann’s fundraising visit their Facebook fundraiser here.

Why I’m joining Light up a Life

November 23, 2020 | 11:00am

A child sits on their parent's shoulders to put a light on a tall christmas tree in the Cathedral.

“2020 has been a difficult year for all of us and, as a doctor, I’ve been so proud and privileged to have worked alongside the team at St Ann’s Hospice, providing front line care to people who need it, at what is a very vulnerable time in their lives.

“As everyone from Greater Manchester has had to adapt to the challenges they’ve faced during the Covid-19 pandemic, we’ve also had to adapt to ensure we can continue to provide specialist care to local patients and their families. I’ve personally seen the care and empathy that the hospice has provided, despite the requirements of PPE, social distancing and many other guidelines that we’ve had to follow through the pandemic as we support colleagues from the NHS and other health and social care settings.

Whether it’s on our wards, or remotely via telephone or video, the connection those we care for have with the hospice – and the connection we all have with each other – has felt more important than ever.

“For those who have faced loss or bereavement during this time, that’s also true. And as we launch our Light up a Life appeal for 2020, we’re asking people to consider joining us to dedicate a light on one of our special Christmas trees, or via our online winter forest in honour of someone special they can’t be with this year.

“We’re also encouraging people to dedicate a light in honour of other losses they have felt this year, whether that’s time lost with family and friends, or occasions that couldn’t be celebrated in lockdown. We’ve probably all experienced some sort feeling of loss this year, and we’re hoping this appeal will give people the opportunity to acknowledge that and look ahead to 2021, whilst also supporting St Ann’s and ensuring our care for local patients can continue.”

You can dedicate a light or find out more now by visiting www.sah.org.uk/light

Thank you to everyone who has supported St Ann’s through this difficult time. We can’t thank you enough.

Light up a Life

Dedicate a light in our online Winter Forest and join our special online service on December 6th to remember a loved one and reflect on this year.

Find out more

Get Elfie for St Ann’s

November 19, 2020 | 7:14am

We’re is hoping local families, community groups, schools and businesses will get behind their festive elf-themed activities, to raise much-needed funds for local patients.

The plea comes at the end of a very challenging fundraising year for our hospice, as we had to cancel many of our income-generating events as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Doctors and nurses from the hospice have continued providing round–the–clock front line care for patients with life-limiting illnesses and their loved ones throughout the year, whilst also supporting NHS colleagues and providing support to people in the community.

Rachel McMillan, Chief Executive of St Ann’s, said:

Like many organisations, we’ve found 2020 a challenging time, and, as an organisation that needs to raise £20,000 a day to keep our services running for patients, we’ve had to be tenacious in our approach to coming up with new fundraising ideas and activities. Thankfully, we have amazing support from people in our local communities right across Greater Manchester, and they’ve really kept us going. They’ve come up with so many creative ways to raise funds – their energy and enthusiasm for our cause is something that never ceases to amaze me. We’re hugely grateful.

Rachel McMillan, Chief Executive

For our Get Elfie festive fundraiser, we’re encouraging people to embrace the Elf theme to get creative to raise money. A bespoke free fundraising pack full of ideas is available to download from the hospice’s website here or you can contact our Fundraising Team on 0161 498 3631 for more information.

Rachel added:

From Elfie dress up days, Get Fit and Elfie physical challenges, quizzes, movie marathons, and colouring competitions, there’s something for every age group to enjoy and we’re hoping lots of people decide to take part and support the hospice. Many of the activities only take a really small amount of time, but the money raised – however large or small the amount – will make a huge difference to our patients. Thanks in advance to anyone who does help us by taking part.

Rachel McMillan, Chief Executive

Get Elfie for #TeamStAnns

Join our Get Elfie challenge today!

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Colliers Arms Raises over £12,000 for St Ann’s

November 19, 2020 | 7:00am

Pub manager Cliff Beech and his wife Shirley are raising a glass to their regulars for their generosity to St Ann’s over many years.

The couple wants to thank loyal customers at the Colliers Arms on Sale Lane, Tyldesley, for donating more than £12,000 to the charity.

Pub goers have even raised £3,200 since lockdown began from various events, including an annual bowls tournament and an inaugural golf day. Raffles and a bonus ball competition have also contributed towards the total for our Little Hulton hospice.

Cliff said:

Our customers have been brilliant and everyone knows what St Ann’s means to them. They’ve all had family and friends cared for there and as soon as they know it’s for the hospice they put in. Anything we do for St Ann’s they’re up for. Our regulars are like a family and we can’t thank them enough. We ran a pub in Wigan and a guest house in Blackpool for 30-odd years and have only been here two years and this is where we’re going to retire.

Cliff Beech, Pub Manager at Colliers Arms

The golf day, organised by Bob Fitton and Deane Parish, was held at the Great Lever and Farnworth club, raising £700.

Deane’s sister Lorna Matthews works at St Ann’s and their late mum Ann was a patient there four years ago, whilst her brother Roland Scales passed away in the hospice recently.

Alongside the money raised, the pub has also donated toys, food and other items as part of its support for our hospice.

Rachel McMillan, Chief Executive of the hospice, said:

We’re hugely grateful to Cliff, Shirley, Bob and Deane, and everyone else who has donated or supported the Colliers Arms in their fundraising. They’ve raised such an incredible amount for our patients, and we can’t thank them enough. It’s extremely hard to fundraise in the current environment, and we’re reliant on the generosity of local people to make sure we can continue to keep our doors open for patients. We really appreciate everything our local communities are doing to support us.

Rachel McMillan, Chief Executive

Theme: Fundraising