Theme: Fundraising

St Ann’s received eggceptional support from the cracking people of Greater Manchester, following our appeal for Easter egg donations.

Kind-hearted individuals and businesses shelled out and donated more than 1,700 Easter eggs for us to use in two special fundraising Easter egg hunt events over the Bank Holiday weekend.

The events, which took place in Wythenshawe Park and Heaton Park, also included other activities for the children to enjoy.

Eamonn added: “It’s amazing that after almost 50 years of care, St Ann’s can always count on local people to help us when we need them.  We never take that for granted, and I’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who helped us out with an egg donation, or who came along to one of the parks on the day.  I hope they had a great time.”

The two events raised in the region of £4000 for the hospice, which will help us to continue to provide care to patients at our three sites in Heald Green, Little Hulton and the Neil Cliffe Centre in Wythenshawe Hospital, as well as in the local community via a range of outreach services.

Belinda Neild, a 41 year old Art & Design teacher at Fred Longworth High School and mum of one, will be running the London Marathon on Sunday 22nd April for St Ann’s.

For the 26 mile run, Belinda will be dedicating each mile to a special loved one, with their names tattooed in henna on her arm. While Belinda’s running, she’ll be able to see which mile is dedicated to who to help motivate her to keep on running. She’ll be running in memory of her mum, father-in-law, aunt, uncle as well as grandparents, friends, and even her dog.

Belinda, who lives in Swinton, was inspired to fundraise for us after her mum, father-in-law, and aunt were all patients at St Ann’s.

Belinda added: “St Ann’s rely on charitable donations, and that’s why I chose to start fundraising for them to help others who may need their help and support in the future.

I’d really like to thank my husband, daughter, family and friends who have been so supportive whilst I’ve been training for the London Marathon.”

Belinda has already raised nearly £2,000 for St Ann’s by doing Christmas collections, holding a 80s fancy dress charity night, and encouraging the school where she works to hold a non-uniform day.

Preparing for the London Marathon, Belinda has been following a rigorous training plan. She’s been running at least five times a week and has also joined the British Military Fitness to keep up her fitness levels.

To sponsor Belinda, please visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/belinda-neild4

If you’re feeling inspired, why not join #TeamStAnns and take on your own sporting challenge, contact us on 0161 498 3631 or email events@sah.org.uk for details of forthcoming events and activities.

Pictured above, founder of the Medical Club Dr Charles Sefton O’Neill.

We’re delighted to share that St Ann’s has benefited from a generous donation from The Medical Club, a club set up by a local GP almost a century ago.

The Medical Club was founded in 1920 by local GP and radiologist Dr Charles Sefton O’Neill, from Altrincham General Hospital. It provided a forum for local consultants and GPs to keep up to date with the latest medical developments as well as offering an opportunity for regular social gatherings.

Speakers from all walks of life addressed the meetings, which were hosted by members of the club in their own homes.

Originally known as The Altrincham District Medical Club, the name of the organisation was changed to The Charles O’Neill Medical Club following the death of its founder.

The club was finally dissolved in April 2014, and the funds remaining in the Club account, totalling £3,600, have been donated to St Ann’s to help us to support local patients.

Eamonn O’Neal, Chief Executive of St Ann’s, said:  “We’re enormously grateful to have received this kind donation, and it’s great that it has come from an organisation which has played such an important part in both the lives of its members and the local community for decades.

“We’ve been working with GPs and consultants for almost half a century, from the early days of the hospice, and it means a lot that this donation will help us to care for even more local patients.”

Business professionals from across Greater Manchester braved the elements to play in the finals of the ninth annual Manchester Professionals’ Football League (MPFL) in aid of us, as the 7 week league came to an end.

The 5-a-side football tournament – hosted annually by professional services recruitment specialist Sellick Partnership – has become a staple event of the Manchester business community attracting some of the North West’s most prominent organisations. This year 24 teams took part including BNY Mellon, EY and PwC.

The Co-operative Group were crowned overall winners after beating Money Advice Group in an intense final game, taking home the MPFL Cup. Softcat also had cause for celebration after beating Zeus Capital to take home the Plate.

Since its formation in 2009 the MPFL has raised approximately £9,000 for St Ann’s, a figure that has helped us provide care such as therapy sessions and bereavement support for hundreds of people across Greater Manchester.

*For more information about the MPFL, or if you would like to get involved next year you can contact Ray Wareing by emailing mpfl@sellickpartnership.co.uk.

We’re celebrating sharing in nearly £15,000 being donated to hospices by Cheshire Freemasons. We’re thrilled that St Ann’s will receive £3,430 – the latest in £12 million given to hospices so far by the Freemasons nationally.

The grant comes through their national Masonic Charitable Foundation, and will be used to ensure that those who most need hospice support in the area can access it.

Eamonn added, “Hospice care has evolved so much in recent years, and is no longer confined to a single building.  We offer specialist support to people with life-limiting illnesses right from the point of diagnosis, through treatment and beyond, and from multiple locations, be that one of our three hospice sites or via our outreach and community services.  We can only do that thanks to the generosity of local people and organisations, so huge thanks to Cheshire Freemasons on behalf of all of our patients and their families.”

This latest donation is one of 245 grants to hospices around the country from Freemasons, including nine across Cheshire. In total £600,000 will be donated to hospices all over England and Wales this year.

This includes £450,000 which will be shared between hospices that receives less than 65 percent funding from the NHS. A further £150,000 will be provided to the national charity for hospice care, Hospice UK, in a pilot partnership aimed at developing and extending bereavement support services in hospices. Contributions from Freemasons to hospices have exceeded £12 million in England and Wales since 1984 and are continuing to increase at a rate of £600,000 a year.

Local families are being invited to take part in two special events this Easter to raise money for St Ann’s.

We support patients from across Greater Manchester from our three sites in Heald Green, Little Hulton and the Neil Cliffe Centre at Wythenshawe Hospital, and we’re organising two family Easter Egg Hunts which will be held on Saturday 31^st March.

The Easter Egg Hunts will take place at Wythenshawe Park, near the Courtyard Café, from 12noon until 3pm, and at Heaton Park, near the Farm Centre, at the same time.

As well as the hunts, the events will also include stalls, games and other activities for the whole family to enjoy.

Eamonn O’Neal, Chief Executive of St Ann’s, said: “We really enjoy holding events like these in our local communities, and we’re always overwhelmed by the support of people who come to join us with their families.

“This is sure to be a fun afternoon for people of any age, and the added bonus is that every penny raised will help us to make a real difference to the lives of our patients.  We care for thousands of people every year who have cancer and other life-limiting illnesses and we can only do that thanks to the amazing support we receive from local people.  We look forward to seeing lots of families having fun in Heaton and Wythenshawe Parks on 31^st March.”

Come along and buy your tickets on the day.

*Tickets for the Easter Egg Hunts are £3.50 per child, with every child entering receiving an Easter Egg prize.

Phil Trow and former Lord Mayor Carl Austin-Behan at a recent Manchester Midnight Walk.

A BBC Radio Manchester broadcaster will be joining people from across Greater Manchester as they take on a special challenge for St Ann’s.

Phil Trow, who hosts the drive time show on BBC Radio Manchester, is supporting the Manchester Midnight Walk by hosting the main event stage.  He will also be taking part in the event to raise money for the hospice.

The 10km moonlit stroll takes place on Friday 27^th April, with the fun kicking off at the iconic Manchester Cathedral at 9pm before the walk begins at midnight.

Phil said: “As a breakfast presenter I’m usually well tucked up in bed by midnight, but I’ve had such fun at the Manchester Midnight Walk in the past that I couldn’t resist being part of it again.

“It’s a great event and the atmosphere is amazing.  I know that hospices do an incredible job in caring for people when they most need support, and St Ann’s has a special place in the hearts of so many Mancunians.  I hope we can raise a huge amount of money, and would encourage as many people as possible to sign up and join us on the night.”

The event has pulled in the crowds every year since it began, creating a unique late-night party atmosphere and raising over £2 million for St Ann’s in that time.

This year’s theme is ‘Cheesy Disco’ and the crowd will be treated to a warm up by band ‘Throb Love Lace and the Pitts’ and duo Laura and Amanda.  There will also be a few surprises to get the crowd in the mood and ready for the challenge ahead.

Many walkers take part in memory of lost loved ones, whilst others join in simply for a night of fun and fundraising.

The 10km route covers landmarks such as St Ann’s Square and Spinningfields and interested walkers can sign up to take part now, by clicking here or calling 0161 498 3631.

Grandmother Barbara Thackray is preparing for a very special challenge – taking part in the Trafford 10km road race, the day before her 80^th birthday.

Barbara, from Altrincham, took her first race in her stride at the ripe age of 77, and even managed to collect a prize for her age group in the Trafford 10km Run after finishing in a creditable time of one hour 24 minutes.

She is now getting ready to take on her fourth challenge by competing in the 10km run again on Sunday 4 March.  She will be running alongside ten other members of her family in aid of the hospice.

She has supported St Ann’s for the last 27 years since her sister Audrey Humphreys died aged 56.

Barbara has raised thousands of pounds for St Ann’s over the years, and is hoping to hit her target of between £800 and £1000 in this latest race.

Barbara, a retired college lecturer, said: “I’m raising money for the hospice again and it’s a cause that’s very close to my heart.  I’m running with lots of other members of my family, who are being very supportive, and I can’t wait to take part as it’s the day before my 80^th birthday.  I’m not shy about asking for sponsorship money – my age gives me the courage to keep asking!

St Ann’s cares for people from across Greater Manchester from our sites in Heald Green, Little Hulton and at the Neil Cliffe Centre in Wythenshawe Hospital, and via a range of community and outreach services.

Eamonn O’Neal, Chief Executive of St Ann’s, said: “We can’t thank Barbara enough for all of her support of the hospice.  It’s an incredible challenge, and we are so grateful to her for thinking of us and for raising money in this way.  I hope she enjoys the race – but more importantly, has an amazing 80^th birthday too.”

*If Barbara has inspired you to join Team St Ann’s and take on your own challenge, why not take part in the Great Manchester Run for us?  Contact events@sah.org.uk or call 0161 498 3631 for more information.