Month: February 2026

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Charity ball in Ashley’s memory raises over £19k

More than 200 guests dressed to impress for an emotional and uplifting evening at The Premier Suite & Lounge in Audenshaw, as family, friends and supporters came together to honour the memory of Ashley Butterworth.

The Ashley B Charity Ball, organised by Bryan Butterworth, John Havern and the team at Premier Events and Memorabilia, raised an incredible £19,542.65 for Willow Wood Hospice – with the final total still expected to rise.

The glittering event, held on 24th January at the Corporation Road venue, was in honour of Ashley, who received end-of-life care at the Hospice in Ashton-under-Lyne. For his dad Bryan, the evening was both a tribute and a thank you.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved, as well as those who donated and attended, the Ball. With the help and generosity of so many people, we raised £19,542.65.

“Our aim was to thank Willow Wood Hospice for the care they gave to my son Ashley in his final days with us. They are amazing in the way they cared for him and us as a family, so we decided we were going to raise awareness and as much money as we could to help the Hospice.

“I want to thank all of our sponsors for the event. A massive thank you to Peter Harrop, whose donation of the Lake District weekend raised us an incredible amount, to Lee at Millers Flooring who after winning the weekend put it back in for auction, and to Gerald and Judith Thompson who bought it for £3,700 and then gave it back so we could raffle it again. I could never thank you all enough. A massive thank you to John Havern – without him, none of this could have happened.”

The entertainment ensured the night was filled with energy as well as emotion. Guests enjoyed performances from R&B soulman Kevon Bennett, Simply Red tribute act Andy Lee, and magician Rob Bardsley, who kept tables captivated throughout the evening.

A raffle and auction featuring bespoke framed memorabilia from footballers, boxing stars, rugby players and iconic bands including Oasis and The Stone Roses proved hugely popular. One standout prize – a three-night stay at a luxury house in the Lake District – alone generated more than £7,700 thanks to an extraordinary chain of generosity from supporters determined to boost the fundraising total.

Staff from Willow Wood Hospice were in attendance on the night and were met with a standing ovation from the packed venue – a poignant moment that reflected the deep gratitude felt by Ashley’s family and the wider community.

Tara Farren, Community and Events Fundraiser at Willow Wood Hospice, said: “It was a really moving evening and a true testament to the love people have for Ashley and the appreciation they have for the Hospice. The atmosphere in the room was amazing, and to see over 200 people come together to raise such a fantastic amount was truly incredible. We are so grateful to Bryan, John and everyone involved.

“We rely on the generosity of our community to raise around three quarters of our annual running costs, so support like this really does make a huge difference to ensure we are here to provide specialist, compassionate and dignified care to anyone in Tameside and Glossop who needs it – now and for generations to come.”

Bryan now hopes the Ashley B Charity Ball can become an annual fixture, continuing to raise both funds and awareness for the vital work carried out by the Hospice.

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Eggs-traordinary donation in Maisie’s memory

A huge thank you to local charity Maisie Moo’s Missions for donating an incredible 1,600 Cadbury’s Crème Eggs to support our Bunny Hop appeal.

The donation was made in honour of what would have been Maisie’s 16th birthday last month. Maisie Almond, from Stalybridge, died in hospital aged 14 in October 2024 from acute liver failure, just 17 days after first complaining of a stomach ache, before she was able to undergo a liver transplant.

Her parents, Kathryn and Stuart, founded the charity in her name to support projects that empower disadvantaged young people, while also raising awareness of organ donation and the importance of donating blood.

Maisie had a special connection to Willow Wood Hospice, volunteering in our Hyde charity shop – where she still has her own corner in tribute. Trustee Ian McClure, whose mum Mary was cared for at the Hospice, also volunteers at our Coffee Mornings.

Kathryn said: “When we saw the Crème Egg Appeal, we wanted to help as it aligns with our strategy to support other charitable initiatives and the eggs are supporting children who are fundraising.

“Maisie enjoyed working in the Willow Wood shop and always wanted to help others in need. We have found strength in wanting to make a difference to others in Maisie’s name.”

We are so grateful for this thoughtful and generous support.

To reward the amazing youngsters taking part in our Bunny Hop, we still need more Creme Eggs before the closing date of Friday 6th March.

Any donations to the Hospice or any of our shops would be greatly appreciated.

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Stalybridge couple’s devotion to Willow Wood Hospice inspires legacy giving

A Stalybridge couple who have volunteered at Willow Wood Hospice for over 15 years are helping to secure its future for generations to come by leaving a gift in their Will.

Joanne and Chris Hinds, both 62 and married for 27 years, first walked through the Hospice’s doors in 2006 when Joanne’s auntie Beryl received care there. It was during that time they met Beryl’s driver, Cyril, who ran the Hospice’s Coffee Mornings with his wife Barbara.

Joanne and Chris attended one of the events and were instantly inspired to support.

“If we can’t give up two hours a month to help, we need speaking to!” Joanne and Chris chuckled.

What began as helping out soon turned into something much bigger. Joanne and Chris became part of a team of volunteers who run the Coffee Mornings, who have become a community of friends, and the couple have since supported the Hospice in other ways.

Joanne served as a Receptionist for many years, while Chris is now a trustee. Together, they organise regular quizzes and two much-loved annual fundraising events – The Last Night of the Proms and the Festival of Christmas Music – which have raised thousands of pounds in vital funds for patient care.

Over the years, they have seen first-hand the impact of hospice care on patients and families from Tameside and Glossop.

Having known many people who have needed the Hospice’s services, Joanne and Chris wanted to do their bit to help ensure its essential care remains available long into the future.

“A few years ago, we were discussing Wills and we thought about leaving something for Willow Wood,” Jo explained. “Starting to think about life after death is an emotive subject and it can be difficult. The hardest part about making a Will is deciding what you want to do, particularly as a couple without children.”

Chris added: “We’re leaving a gift as a percentage of our estate. Even just one per cent can make a massive difference and leaves the bulk of someone’s Will to their loved ones. Today is always the right time to think about making your Will.”

Gifts in Wills fund the care of one in five patients at Willow Wood and are vital in providing compassionate, specialist and dignified care now and for future generations.

“Unfortunately the Hospice’s services aren’t fully funded so it’s reassuring to know that by leaving a gift in our Wills will help care for others – it’s our legacy to our community,” said Chris.

‘Anyone can leave a legacy’

Willow Wood Hospice has joined forces with 127 hospices across England, Scotland and Wales as part of the This Is Hospice Care campaign, encouraging local people to consider leaving a gift in their Will.

New data from Hospice UK reveals that gifts in Wills are the lifeline keeping the country’s hospices open, funding the equivalent of 400,000 nights of hospice care every year. However, 59% of the public are unaware that hospices like Willow Wood provide services free of charge.

It costs around £10,000 a day to keep the Hospice in Ashton-under-Lyne running. As a charity independent of the NHS, Willow Wood receives just 24 per cent of its annual funding from the government. The remainder comes from the generosity of the community – through gifts in Wills, donations, fundraising events, charity shop purchases, the weekly lottery, and volunteering.

Sam Duncan, Director of Fundraising and Communications at Willow Wood Hospice, said: “At Willow Wood Hospice, we’re here for our community, whether it’s supporting a partner to provide care at home, helping a loved-one process grief, or providing dignified and compassionate end-of-life care.

“Gifts in Wills make all of this possible, helping to fund the care of one in five of our patients. These legacy gifts ensure that vital support is there, not just for the person who is receiving hospice care, but for those closest to them.”

Catherine Bosworth, Director of Income Generation and Grants at Hospice UK, added: “Our ageing population means demand for hospice care will only continue to grow, so it’s vital that we do what we can to secure hospice care now. A gift in your will to a hospice doesn’t require parting with your money today, anyone can leave a legacy.”

For Joanne and Chris, the decision simply felt right.

After 15 years of unwavering dedication, their legacy will ensure Willow Wood Hospice can continue to care for local families when they need it most.

For more information about leaving a gift in your Will to Willow Wood Hospice, visit willowwood.org.uk/giftsinwills

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Janet was a winner and you could be too!

Janet Valentine, who lives in Oldham, had a great start to 2026 when she discovered that she’d won £3,250 from our lottery.

“It was such a lovely surprise,” Janet told us. “I was in the car with my husband when I got the call. I thought I might have won £100 or £500, so when Wendy said it was £3,250, I was over the moon!”

Janet hasn’t decided exactly how she’ll spend her winnings yet, but she’s already planning to give back a little to the Hospice.

“It’s come at a good time after Christmas and New Year. We’ll take our time deciding, but I want to donate some of it back to the Hospice.”

Janet first came across our Lottery team at a local supermarket and signed up in September 2018. She’s been a regular player ever since.

“I heard about the great work the Hospice does and it was a nice way to support it. I don’t notice it coming out of my bank account. It’s the price of a couple of cups of coffee – it’s a small sacrifice to make for supporting Willow Wood, and you could win big like me!

“It’s important to me. I’ve never been in a situation where I’ve had any friends come into a hospice but you never know when someone you know or love could be in that position.”

Janet’s long-standing connections with education in Tameside, including time at Tameside College and Ashton Sixth Form College, where she’s currently a governor, mean she’s known Willow Wood for years.

“I’ve been aware of the hospice for many years,” she said. “I’ve visited before and met some of the staff to get a feel for what they do. People feel hospices might be places that are not pleasant to visit but this place is nothing like that – it’s just so lovely, positive and friendly.”

Her advice to anyone thinking about joining the Lottery?

“If you can spare a pound or two every week, definitely give it a go. You’ll be doing something really good, and you never know – you could be the next winner!”

Join Janet and support local patients

By playing the Willow Wood Hospice Lottery, you’re not only in with a shot at our exciting rollover prize and our weekly £1,000 jackpot, you’re helping fund the vital care our teams provide to local people with life-limiting illnesses.

For just £1 a week, you could win up to £25,000 and make a real difference in your community.

Become a lottery member today by going to https://willowwood.org.uk/lottery/