Theme: News story

St Ann’s Hospice is delighted to announce that their annual Golf Day will be returning to  Dunham Forest Golf & Country Club in 2025. 

The St Ann’s Hospice Golf Day is a fantastic golf event that raises money for the Build it Together appeal which is run by the hospice. 

The Build it Together appeal aims to raise £2m for the continued construction of a new hospice building in Heald Green. 

Events Coordinator at St Ann’s Hospice, Laura Hindley commented. 

“Dunham Golf Club is one of the most beautiful golf courses in the UK and we are delighted to be returning here for the 2025 event. Our Golf Day is a perfect day out for avid golfers, experienced or amateurs to enjoy a wonderful round of golf while also raising vital funds for St Ann’s. 

St Ann’s Hospice Golf Day will be made up of teams of four. There will be on course prizes on the day, an on arrival meet your team and guests for a light lunch, followed by a shotgun start at 1.30pm. 

Complimentary refreshments will be available at the Halfway House. Following play, enjoy a delicious dinner together with the other teams, and there will be a presentation to competition winners and a further chance to win with our quality raffle and auction. 

Non-players are welcome to attend the day and join the meal and presentations. 

St Ann’s supporter George Hadden enters a team into the Golf Day each year. 

“I always enjoy being part of the St Ann’s Golf Day. It really is a lovely event, very well organised and for a very good cause. I encourage you to sign up a team today to be part of this special event,” he said. 

There are three packages to choose from, starting with the Bronze Package, costing £695 and includes entry for one team. 

The Silver Package costs £1,200 and includes entry for one team, the option to sponsor a hole, nearest pin or longest drive, a banner displayed at chosen sponsorship option, funds towards prize table, and a listing in the event programme. 

The Gold Package costs £1,600 and includes complimentary team entry, goody bag sponsorship, including branded company merchandise, the option to sponsor 1st prize, lunch or dinner, a formal thank you from St Ann’s speaker on the day, funds towards prize table, a vinyl banner displayed at lunch, dinner, registration or the putting green, a mention in the press release following the event,  and a listing on social media and included in the event programme. 

The St Ann’s Hospice Golf Day 2025 will take place on Thursday, June 26 from midday to 8pm with a 1.30pm shotgun start at Dunham Forest Golf & Country Club, Altrincham.  

For registration, please visit the St Ann’s Hospice website, here. 

St Ann’s staff, volunteers and supporters are gearing up for one of the hospice’s more adventurous challenges of the year.

The Yorkshire Three Peaks challenge taking place on Saturday, June 7 will see a number of experienced and amateur hikers take on a picturesque challenge while also raising funds for St Ann’s Hospice.

Volunteer in the Being You Centre at St Ann’s Hospice, Joan Hargreaves is taking on the challenge because she is “aware of how important it is to raise much needed funds for the hospice in these very difficult financial times”.

Assistant Practitioner at St Ann’s Hospice, Rachel Bridge is also taking part in the Yorkshire Three Peaks challenge along with a number of other members of the Rehab Team at the hospice. 

“I am always up for a challenge especially seeing day to day how St Ann’s support and cares for patients with life limiting conditions,” Rachel said. 

“I value the importance of fundraising for St Ann’s and I try and find ways to be as supportive and available as I can be. I love walking but I’ve not climbed any peaks, in preparation I have been trying to go on as many walks as I can in between working. 

This is my way of being ‘Bold and Brave’, wish me luck!” she added. 

Joan and Rachel will be trekking through the stunning Yorkshire Dales, conquering the peaks of Pen-y-ghent (684m), Whernside (736m), and Ingleborough (723m), all while proudly wearing their #TeamStAnns gear. 

Events Co-Ordinator for St Ann’s Hospice, Laura Hindley said the Yorkshire Three Peaks is an exciting day out for supporters of St Ann’s Hospice.  

“Join us for the Yorkshire Three Peaks challenge this summer. Pen-y-ghent, Whernside, and Ingleborough feature some of the most beautiful scenery in all of England. We cannot wait to welcome those taking part on the day to raise much needed funds for St Ann’s Hospice!” Laura said. 

The three peaks hike is a professionally guided tour with Qualified Mountain Leader(s) certified in mountain first aid.  

This challenge is over 24 miles (38.6km) round trip route including over 1500m (5,000 feet) of elevation.   

St Ann’s Hospice has been named the official charity partner of the 2025 Stockport Business Awards. 

The Stockport Business Awards was founded and organised by CN Chartered Accountants, with the aim of celebrating business excellence within the Stockport Borough and continuing to grow the business community in the area. 

It was announced that St Ann’s Hospice would be the charity partner for 2025 during the official launch evening of the awards. 

Capital Partnership Fundraiser at St Ann’s Hospice, Liz Greenwood commented:  

“We are so proud that St Ann’s Hospice has been named at the Charity Partner for this year’s awards. St Ann’s has been part of the Stockport community for more than 50 years and has cared for thousands of people from the area impacted by life limiting illnesses. It is really special for us that the Stockport business community are coming together to raise money for our new hospice. 

Louise Lamaris, Marketing Manager at CN Chartered Accountants – Organisers & Founders of The Stockport Business Awards commented. 

“CN Chartered Accountants is delighted to choose St Ann’s as this year’s Stockport Business Awards charity partner. The dedication to the Stockport community over the 50+ years through the amazing work from the charity has touched the lives of so many in the area (and beyond) including myself and many client’s and businesses we work with at CN Group. We are proud to share our support for the work of St Ann’s and contribute to the ‘Build it Together’ new build project to enable enhanced care and facilities for the hospice and supporting services. 

“I recently visited the site of the new hospice – to see the difference the new project is going to make, it is clear the patients and their families are very much central to the exciting new plans. 

“If you are a Business within the Stockport area, join us in celebrating the success of local businesses, enter the awards, showcase your business and help support St Ann’s – contact me on louiselamaris@cngrp.co.uk.,” she said. 

To learn more about the 2025 Stockport Business Awards, click here. 

Isabel Maccabee from South Manchester is competing in the 2025 Manchester Marathon in memory of her dad, Paul. 

Paul spent his last few days at St Ann’s Hospice in Heald Green in what Isabel has described as an “incredibly important week in her life”. Isabel is now raising funds for the hospice in the lead up to the marathon. 

The Manchester Marathon is one of the largest sporting events in the United Kingdom with over 36,000 runners expected to take part this year. 

“Running has always been a part of my life. This is an ultimate challenge for me. My dad ran a marathon at one point in his life and I think knowing that, I’ve always had it in my mind that I was going to run a marathon at some point in my life,” Isabel said. 

Isabel is proud to be from Manchester and says competing in the marathon on home soil is a brilliant experience. 

In a cathartic turn of events, the Manchester Marathon ends in a place that holds great meaning to both Isabel and her dad. 

“The last leg of the race is down Oxford Road, by the University of Manchester, which is where dad worked for years before he died. He project managed the creation of Brunswick Park where the finish line is at. It’s a great reminder on the day of what I’m running towards and for.” 

Paul was diagnosed with cancer a week before the first lockdown of the Covid-19 epidemic in March of 2020, he spent the next few months in and out of hospital during Covid and died at St Ann’s Hospice in September 2020. 

“For us, as a family, that week that he was here was so important because during those months, my mum, sister, and I were very much carers. We had a lot of special moments with him, of course, but it felt that we were nurses and every other role under the sun to meet his needs, and make him as comfortable as possible,” she said. 

“Particularly towards the end, we just couldn’t manage it anymore. We couldn’t have kept him home any longer, although we wanted to. Being in St Ann’s was such a relief because as soon as we got here, you could tell he was more relaxed as he was being treated in ways we weren’t able to. 

“I remember he was given a proper shave and looked after; he was a very ill man but he looked so much fresher and happier in that time,” she added. 

Isabel continued. “For us it took such a load off our backs with the thoughts of remembering medication, and everything else we needed to do for him because St Ann’s dealt with it all for us. 

“We were able to be there and talk to him or read stories to him when he couldn’t communicate back. That felt to us, as the best way it could have been in his final week, a horrific week in so many ways, but St Ann’s made it so much easier. 

“I think it is possible to have a good death, and I feel like that is what we managed to have here in this hospice, because they allowed us to take a step back and just be people,” Isabel said. 

In memory of her father, Isabel has set up a Just Giving page to fundraise for St Ann’s Hospice, if you would like to donate to Isabel’s cause, or to learn more about the reasons she is running the marathon, you can visit her page, here. 

After taking part in two Manchester Marathons, Craig Weatherill from Manchester is seeking a new challenge by running in the world’s largest, single day fundraising event, the London Marathon. 

Craig will be raising funds for St Ann’s Hospice who cared for his dad, Ken. 

“I love running,” Craig said. “I’m one of the sad people who enjoys it. 

“I’ve never ran the London Marathon before, but St Ann’s have given me the opportunity to do it and so I’m going to raise some money,” he added. 

Craig says he would encourage anyone to get into running, claiming it’s a great way of “clearing your head”. 

“So just pace yourself, it’s a good way of keeping fit. The best part about it is socialising. I started running for my mental health,” he said. 

Craig’s dad was initially diagnosed with lung cancer in 2013 where his treatment was successful and according to Craig, he went back to a normal life, becoming a granddad a few times over again. 

In 2015, Ken’s cancer returned, this time in the form of a brain tumour. “After surgery to remove the tumour and Radiotherapy treatment Dad fought back and made amazing progress. He was on the road to recovery, or so we thought,” Craig said. 

The brain tumour reappeared in 2017. More surgery followed and then the tumour reappeared again in 2018. Unfortunately, it was decided that it was too dangerous to operate. 

Ken went through chemotherapy treatment at Wythenshawe Hospital and a radiotherapy treatment at the Christie in Manchester. 

“Sadly, the tumour didn’t go away, and dad deteriorated,” Craig said. 

Ken was initially admitted to St Ann’s in Heald Green in the autumn of 2019 for pain management and was later released. In February 2020, he had a chest infection and was admitted once again to St Ann’s. 

“He passed away on the 23rd of March, almost five years ago now. He fought everything so well, he always kept going,” Craig said. 

Craig said he felt strange when his dad was first admitted to St Ann’s Hospice but by the time his dad had passed, he felt that he had to give something back to the hospice. 

“They were truly amazing. The support from the staff, they were so friendly and professional but they also felt like family and friends,” he said. 

Craig has officially launched his marathon campaign, and you can donate to his cause or learn more about his reasons for running the marathon here, via his Just Giving page. 

Approximately 300 pupils from Etchell’s Primary School in Cheadle took part in a sponsored walk to St Ann’s Hospice to raise money for their new building currently under construction. 

The sun shone through the clouds as pupils from all years, along with their teachers and supervisors, made their way to the Heald Green hospice on what had been a wet start to the morning. 

Etchell’s Primary School have been longtime supporters of St Ann’s and were given the opportunity to observe the new building and to learn more about the work of the hospice. 

Director of Clinical Services at St Ann’s Hospice, Emma Dixon was on hand to welcome the children to the site. 

“It’s so wonderful to see all of you from Etchell’s Primary School here today. To walk from your school all the way here took time out of your busy days and you have helped us to raise money for the ongoing construction of our new hospice site. Everyone at St Ann’s would like to formally thank you for your generosity,” she said. 

Director of People, Culture and Support Services at St Ann’s Hospice, Gill Turnpenney was also on hand to welcome the students. 

Acting Headteacher of Etchells Primary School, Pete Cope who walked with the children commented. 

 “It was a pleasure for Etchells Primary School to be involved in a whole school sponsored walk to the Hospice. It is important for us as a school to give back to the local community and be involved with such a worthwhile cause that has affected members of our school community,” Pete said. 

Funds raised from the Etchell’s Primary School sponsored walk will go towards the Build it Together appeal by St Ann’s which seeks to raise £2m through community effort. So far over £1.5m has been raised. The new hospice building is due completion in autumn of this year.