Theme: Fundraising

Elsie, from Sale, died last year aged 90 and was a patient at St Ann’s so Natalie McCullen and Caroline Davison wanted to thank the charity for caring for her.

They were joined by Elsie’s  great granddaughters Rhea Davison and Morgan Pybus in the walk through the city centre.

Natalie said: “We’d heard of St Ann’s but hadn’t experienced the hospice until our nana was treated there.

“She had her family around her and the hospice cared for all of us.  We wanted to take part in the walk as a way of thanking the hospice for that wonderful care.”

A group of 42, mostly girls calling themselves Miles for Michelle, did the 10k walk dressed in green as a tribute to her Irish heritage.

Mum Margaret and daughters Kathy, Bernie, Caroline and Monica led the way as part of their fundraising campaign which is set to raise more than £16,000 for St Ann’s.

Michelle, from Mosley Common, only spent two days as a patient at the Little Hulton hospice before she died in February, aged 35, just two months after she was diagnosed with bowel cancer.

But she was so well looked after by the hospice that friends and family want to give something back to St Ann’s.

Older sister Kathy said: “Our family felt like she was at home when she went to the hospice. They took our sadness away and it was such a relief. She was the celebrity of our family and St Ann’s cared for her like she was one of theirs too.

“Michelle loved her Irish dancing and was so proud of our family’s Irish roots, so we thought we’d give her own St Patrick’s Day Parade. She was extremely successful and set up her own business and always wanted to give something back.”

Janet Ward took part in the 10k walk in memory of her dad Alan Murphy who died last December and was a patient at St Ann’s Hospice in Little Hulton.

Joanne Norman, whose late father Roy Clare was also treated by the hospice, works at Trafford General Hospital while Cath Browne is a district nurse at Salford Royal.

Janet said: “It’s great to see so many people walking in memory of loved ones and raising much-needed funds for St Ann’s so it can continue to care for patients.”

Jackie, from Hazel Grove, died of cancer on her 64th birthday, a month before we staged our annual flagship fundraising event.

Daughter Amanda Walton led a team calling themselves Midnight Bloom in the city centre 10k walk which started and ended at Manchester Cathedral.

Jackie’s daughters-in-law Jodie and Sarah Clayton joined in a walk tinged with sadness for family and friends . They have raised almost £2,000 for St Ann’s where Jackie was a patient.

Jackie worked at Hazel Grove Primary School for 30 years. Amanda said: “Mum was diagnosed two years ago and knew we were doing the walk so wanted to sponsor us.

“We saw what St Ann’s does when mum went in. The hospice cared for her and we realised how important raising funds is because it makes a difference.”

The former Coronation Street star was among a 20-strong group of friends taking part in our Manchester Midnight Walk event.

Sally divides her time between London and her home in Heaton Mersey and was quick to sign up for the popular 10k walk which started and ended at Manchester Cathedral.

Sally said: “I’ve probably already walked 10k today before getting the train from London where I like to walk when I’m not filming.

“It’s the first time I’ve done the Midnight Walk and the atmosphere is fabulous. I’ve had a lot of family and friends treated at St Ann’s and I’ve known the chief executive Eamonn O’Neal for many years.

“Last year a close relative who died had a place in the hospice but didn’t quite make it there.  St Ann’s offers peace of mind and palliative care for a time when for everyone it’s the best place to be and helps so many people.”

Sally starts filming in Doncaster next week for the fifth series of sitcom Still Open All Hours, starring David Jason.

She is also presenting a major new documentary about Suffragette leader Emmeline Pankhurst which is shown on BBC One on Friday, June 8.

Hundreds of local people turned out in support of the hospice at this year’s Manchester Midnight Walk.

We were thrilled with the amazing response to this year’s flagship fundraising event – a 10km city centre walk which started and finished at the beautiful Manchester Cathedral.

The event is incredibly important to us, having raised almost £2million for the hospice since it began twelve years ago.

Even the notorious Manchester weather was kind as rain showers relented for the event, sponsored by BetFred.

Late night revellers on their way home also made spontaneous donations as walkers went on a loop past landmarks the Hilton Hotel, old Granada Studios, Spinningfields, Manchester Arena and the Northern Quarter.

The crowds were given a rousing send-off inside the Cathedral which was rocking to a disco music as part of the pre-walk entertainment. The party was hosted by BBC broadcaster Phil Trow and long-time St Ann’s supporter Paul Hazelby, who has raised more than £100,000 for the charity.  Back 2 Skool and Throb Love Lace and the Pitts also got the crowd warmed up before they set off on the sponsored walk.

Participants were raising money for the care of our patients, who we help from our sites in Heald Green, Little Hulton and the Neil Cliffe Centre at Wythenshawe Hospital, plus various outreach and community services.

Eamonn O’Neal, Chief Executive of St Ann’s, said: “We’re always amazed at the warmth and generosity people from across Greater Manchester have for our charity, but to see so many gathered together on Friday having a great time and raising money for our patients was overwhelming.

“Just looking at everyone setting off on the walk, and realising each one has their own personal motivation for supporting us, or experience of St Ann’s, was incredible.

“People in Greater Manchester have an amazing spirit, drive and sense of pride, and we certainly saw that in droves at the Midnight Walk. As we all know, there have been some terrible events which the people of Manchester have had to endure, and to see everyone come together in support of us in this way was really emotional.  We can’t thank everyone who took part enough.”

Eamonn added: “As a charity we only receive about a third of our funding from the NHS, so rely on the kind generosity of the public to help us raise around £20,000 every day, which is what we need to continue providing our care. We’re really looking forward to receiving everyone’s sponsorship money so we can find out how much has been raised at the event.”

Staff at British Gas have no trouble finding the energy to take part in the Manchester Midnight Walk each year.

Around 30 employees from their Old Trafford offices will join thousands of other walkers at our 10km event this Friday 27 April.

They will honour the memory of colleague Vicky Baines, from Swinton, who died of liver cancer in 2011.

Vicky, a manager with British Gas, spent her final days at the hospice in Little Hulton and such was the excellent care she received that staff have completed the walk as a thank you, raising much-needed funds for St Ann’s in the process.

This year’s Manchester Midnight Walk, which is sponsored by Betfred, has a new start and finish – the iconic Manchester Cathedral. The walk is in its 12th year and has raised more than £2m for St Ann’s during that time.

The route follows  a flat course past famous city centre landmarks such as the Hilton Hotel, the old Granada Studios, Spinningfields, Manchester Arena and the Northern Quarter.

Manchester Cathedral is open from 9 pm for entertainment including performers, stalls and a Zumba warm up. The walk includes a Memory Garden where you can leave a message in memory of a loved one.

Registration closes midday on Wednesday 25 April, so if you haven’t signed up yet then head to www.mmwalk.org.uk

St Ann’s has received a generous donation of sweets from local business Swizzels in advance of this year’s Manchester Midnight Walk, which will be available on the night to raise extra funds.

Hundreds of participants taking part in the event will be able to head to the special Swizzels tuck shop before they set off on the sponsored moonlit walk, to enjoy a range of goodies including Squashies and Fun Gums, and all proceeds will go to St Ann’s.

Eamonn O’Neal, Chief Executive of St Ann’s, said:  “The team at Swizzels are such valued supporters of St Ann’s and we are thrilled that they’ve made this kind donation for our Manchester Midnight Walk.

Eamonn added: “Thanks so much to everyone at Swizzels, and to everyone who has signed up to take part in the walk too.”

Sarah-Louise Heslop, Marketing Manager for Swizzels, said:  “Swizzels are delighted to support the St Ann’s Hospice Midnight Walk with sweets for the tuck shop.  The walkers certainly deserve a treat after their fundraising efforts.  We would like to pass on our best wishes to everyone involved.”

For all those joining us on the night, Manchester Cathedral is open from 9 pm for entertainment including performers, stalls and a Zumba warm up. The walk also includes a Memory Garden where you can leave a message in memory of a loved one.

Walkers will also receive a medal and goodie bag as a thank you for taking part, which will also include Swizzels Squashies.