Month: November 2023

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Marie receives early birthday gift by striking lottery gold

One of our team members at Willow Wood recently struck lottery lucky, leaving Royal Mail with one less winning lottery cheque to deliver!

This stroke of good fortune also gave Hospice Lottery Manager, Diane Austin-Hughes, the fantastic job of delivering the good news and a cheque for £1,000 to the winner in person.

“I send out cheques each week to our lottery winners, but rarely do I get to see the surprise and joy on their faces. So, when I realised that our Quality, Governance and Compliance Lead, Marie Gamlin, had won the jackpot, I was thrilled!”

As for Marie, the lucky recipient of the winning cheque, her win made for a double celebration as it came just days before her birthday!

“I thought Diane was joking at first when she handed me a cheque for £1,000. I thought perhaps she was asking for some advice on lottery risk assessments. When the news finally sank in, I knew immediately that I wanted to spend some of the money to treat my family to a lovely meal together to celebrate the win and my birthday,” said Marie.

Marie added: “I’m a winner in other ways too, as I get to see first-hand the services my lottery membership funds help to provide.”

By pledging £1 in our lottery each week, you are entered into our draw to win one of 40 prizes and have a chance of pocketing anything from £5 to £1,000! While you wait to see if you’ve been lucky each week, your entry fee will be working hard to help us provide care for patients from your community.

If you would like to sign up for our lottery, click here.

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Hospice to hold heartwarming festive fundraisers

The holiday season is a time of joy, togetherness and giving, and this year Willow Wood Hospice is holding a series of festive fundraisers that will warm your heart and bring hope to those in need.

As we approach the most wonderful time of the year, the Hospice is committed to spreading love, compassion and support to our community through events that will brighten the festive season and make a significant difference in the lives of Willow Wood’s patients and their families.

This is encapsulated through our Garden of Lights celebration evenings, where you can join us at the Hospice, on Willow Wood Close in Ashton-under-Lyne, to create magical memories with family and friends in our stunning gardens.

Stroll amongst the glowing trees, twinkling with thousands of lights, enjoy a seasonal tipple and festive fayre, and browse stalls stacked high with Christmas crafts, gifts, cards and more. You will also be able to buy refreshments and explore our Gift Shop in reception.

Join us on any of these dates: Tuesday 28th November, Thursday 30th November, Tuesday 5th December, Thursday 7th December, Saturday 9th December, Tuesday 12th December and Thursday 14th December.

Entry is free and you can just turn up on any of the evenings between 5pm and 8pm.

You will also receive a warm Willow Wood welcome at our Christmas Market, taking place at the Hospice on Sunday 26th November from midday until 3pm.

Enjoy a seasonal drink or two whilst having a look around our selection of stalls filled with Christmas goodies and gift ideas.

Admission is £3 per person, while Under-12s are free. There is no need to book as you can pay on the door on the day.

Only Blue Badge permit holders will be able to park at the Hospice but external parking has been secured, so you will be able to park in the car park at West Hill School on Stamford Street and there will be a shuttle bus service running to and from the Hospice to help reduce traffic.

If you are unable to attend any of these events but still want to support the Hospice, you can visit our online shop at www.willowwood.org.uk/shop where you will find an array of bespoke items to buy – from beautifully designed Christmas cards and notepads to 2024 calendars and diaries which will make for perfect presents.

On that very note, there’s a £2,000 jackpot and 39 other fantastic cash prizes up for grabs in the Winter Super Draw, which you can enter for just £1 per ticket at www.willowwood.org.uk/superdraw

Alternatively, the Hospice would be incredibly grateful for any donations of items which could be used as raffle prizes – whether it be a chocolate selection box or a scented candle – that can be dropped off at our main reception or any of our charity shops.

Attending any of Willow Wood’s festive events or making a purchase in our online shop will directly support the care of patients from the local community in Tameside and Glossop at the Hospice, which needs at least £3.3 million every year to continue its vital work.

As well as celebrating the season, the Hospice also recognises that the festive period can be a difficult time for many who dearly miss loved ones and remembering friends and family who are no longer with us is precious.

Light up a Life is an opportunity to dedicate a light on a beautiful willow tree in the Hospice gardens for your loved ones, and light a star for them in our virtual night’s sky.

The community is also invited to three Light up a Life events, where you, your family and friends can share the heart-warming experience as you watch the tree lit and see your loved one’s light shining bright.

The services, which are free to attend, will take place as follows:

Saturday 25th November at 4pm at Willow Wood Hospice, Willow Wood Close, Ashton-under-Lyne, OL6 6SL.

Saturday 2nd December at 2pm at Old Glossop Parish Church, Church Street South, SK13 7RU.

Sunday 10th December at 2pm at Albion Church, Stamford Street East, Ashton-under-Lyne, OL6 6QQ.

To dedicate a light and find out more, go to https://willowwood.org.uk/events/lual.

On 25th November, only Blue Badge permit holders will be able to park at the Hospice but you will also be able to park at Ashton Sixth Form College, which can be accessed via Montague Road, and there will be a shuttle bus service running to and from the Hospice.

The closest pay and display car park is on Darnton Road, where you can park for a small fee of £1.50 for an hour, £2.50 for two hours, £3.50 for three hours or £4 for all day.

Pictured: The Hospice gardens lit up spectacularly at night ahead of our Garden of Lights celebration evenings

By Adam Higgins

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Tameside teenager embarks on epic challenge for Willow Wood

A teenager from Dukinfield is swimming the equivalent of five marathons AND cycling 73 miles – all before the anniversary of her grandma’s death – to raise funds for Willow Wood Hospice.

Mary McClure passed away peacefully in the Hospice, based in Ashton-under-Lyne, on 5th May 2003 from breast cancer.

Although Leila McClure didn’t get to meet her grandma, the memories shared with her throughout her life made it feel that she had a deep understanding and connection with her.

Leila’s family have been supporting the Hospice for many years and have been volunteering at events where Leila has come along to since she was just two years old.

Now Leila is 13 years old and able to choose how she can support the Hospice by herself, she has taken on the huge challenge, which she intends to finish by 5th May 2024.

Leila, who goes to All Saints Catholic College, said: “Unfortunately, I never met my grandma as she died before I was born, however I have been told how much of an amazing person she was and how well she was cared for in our amazing Hospice.

“This year is the 20th anniversary since she passed away and she would have been celebrating her 73rd birthday on New Year’s Eve. To mark the 20 years, I wanted to do something significant to recognise her and raise some money along the way. I plan to combine two passions of mine – cycling and swimming.

“As she would have been 73 and died on the fifth month of the year, I am doing a 73-mile bike ride (to recognise her 73rd birthday) and swim the equivalent of five marathons (as she died on the fifth day of the fifth month of the year).

“The swimming will be the most difficult challenge as that equates to 131 miles, so 8,433 lengths in total, but I am determined to do it and raise much-needed funds for a great cause, given how important it is to the local community.

“I am up for the challenge. Any help you can give me along the way by sponsoring me with whatever you can would be really appreciated.”

Leila – who is a member of Dukinfield Marlins Swimming Club – usually swims for around two hours, three times per week, but she is now swimming most days to ensure she completes her challenge. She has already finished her first marathon – so it’s one down, four to go!

Her initial target of £500 has already been smashed and Leila is thrilled with the support she has had so far.

Lisa Buckley, Community Fundraiser at Willow Wood Hospice, commented: “We are truly grateful for the incredible determination and heart that Leila is showing to support the Hospice.

“Her dedication is a shining example of the impact one individual can have when they set their mind to making a difference.

“We are thrilled to have such an inspirational champion like Leila helping us to continue providing vital care and support to those in need in our community.”

Anyone who wishes to support Leila to help provide other families with the care and support her grandma received at the Hospice can make a donation on her JustGiving page here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/leila-mcclure-1696426430085

Pictured: Young fundraising hero Leila in the gardens at Willow Wood Hospice

By Adam Higgins

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Football Night Fundraiser scores big for hospice

Almost 200 people enjoyed a fantastic evening of funny stories, memories and fun in Dukinfield, which raised a massive £3,740 for the Hospice.   

Former professional footballers Peter Barnes, Tommy Booth and Trevor Ross engaged in a fascinating trip down football memory lane, sharing stories and anecdotes about their lives and funny events in the world of football in the last century.

They certainly kept the packed audience at the Masonic Hall entertained on Friday night (10th November).

Trevor, who was born in Ashton-under-Lyne, where the Hospice is based, said: “I’m so pleased to have been able to help Willow Wood Hospice and meet so many old friends in Tameside.”

Long-time supporters of the Hospice, Chris Smith and Brian Wild, who organised the event for the fourth year running, had aimed to raise £2,500 and, such was the demand, tickets had sold out weeks prior to the night.

“We’re astonished at the generosity of the crowds that attended,” said Brian, a former Trustee of the Hospice and Civic Mayor of Tameside.

“The audience had a great night and we sent them home happy – which is down to the kindness of the football legends Peter, Trevor and Tommy, who gave their time free of charge and really entertained us all.

“Master of ceremonies and former Premiership referee Roger Dilkes held the night together with professional skill, without a single yellow or red card issued – and VAR wasn’t used once!”

Chris commented: “Everyone involved gave their time as volunteers but I must single out Councillor Denise Ward, who singlehandedly produced pie and peas for 200 people, donating all the ingredients herself.

“That sort of volunteering and commitment is vital and wonderful in our determination to support our local hospice.

“Plans are already under way for the 2024 event but we have headaches already – how do you top this amazing result?”

Lisa Buckley, Community Fundraiser at Willow Wood Hospice, hailed the success of the event.

She said: “We hope that everyone who attended had a great night and we are thrilled that a magnificent amount of money has been raised which will make a huge difference to patients in our local community who need our care.

“We are immensely grateful to Brian and Chris for organising the popular event once again, to Dukinfield Masonic Hall for hosting and to all of the volunteers who supported what was a fabulous night.”

Pictured: (left to right) Arsenal and Everton legend Trevor Ross, fundraiser Brian Wild and former Premiership referee Roger Dilkes.

By Adam Higgins

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Ethan’s sunflower garden blossoms into funds for hospice care

A five-year-old boy from Hyde has been making a difference to those in the local community who need our care – one sunflower at a time. 

Ethan Howarth loves gardening and he was just four years old when he started using his pocket money to grow sunflowers at his home in Newton.

Ross, Ethan’s dad, lost his mum to cancer 10 years ago and has previously worked in hospice care, so they decided to name the plants and sell the small shoots to raise funds for Willow Wood Hospice.

The family set up a Facebook page – Ethan’s Charity Sunflowers – to share pictures of Ethan planting the flowers and also naming them, to watch their journey growing.

Along with dad Ross and mum Rachel, Ethan also brought some into the Hospice, before they were sold for a donation.

Ethan has raised almost £200 for the Hospice and we cannot thank him enough.

By Adam Higgins

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A Willow Wood welcome for local MP Reynolds

MP Jonathan Reynolds has paid a visit to Willow Wood to express his support for the important role the Hospice plays within the local community.

Mr Reynolds, who is a steadfast ally and advocate of the Hospice, was updated on the vast array of services that Willow Wood offers to his constituents – ranging from Complementary Therapy to confidential one-to-one counselling.

The visit was also a valuable opportunity for staff at the Hospice to talk to the Stalybridge and Hyde MP about the immediate and long-term challenges Willow Wood faces.

After a stroll through the gardens, accompanied by CEO Karen Houlston, Mr Reynolds met with the Chairman of the Board, Philip Millson, and members of the Hospice’s Senior Management Team.

They engaged in an in-depth discussion about the pressing issues arising from the funding crises, which is affecting hospices across Greater Manchester.

Willow Wood Hospice, which celebrates its 25th anniversary next year, needs at least £3.3 million every year to continue providing free, high quality, multi-professional care, support and education to people from across Tameside and Glossop.

Of those costs, around 80 per cent must be raised through the generosity of our local community and support from donors.

The Hospice hopes that Mr Reynolds, who is also Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, can use his influence in the House of Commons to lobby for a sustainable funding model for hospices.

Karen Houlston, CEO of Willow Wood Hospice, said: “The backing of MPs to help address both the short-term funding deficit hospices are experiencing, and to establish a sustainable, lasting funding structure is crucial, and we are immensely appreciative of Jonathan’s consistent support.”

MP Jonathan Reynolds commented: “I am so proud of all that Willow Wood Hospice achieve and what the Hospice means to the people of our area.

“Their resilience even in the toughest financial challenges is extraordinary. Please continue to support them and their work that brings so much comfort and dignity in the toughest chapters of local lives.”