Category: Donations

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Ashton girl’s festive fundraising in memory of her nan

An enthusiastic girl made Christmas tree decorations to raise a fantastic amount for Willow Wood Hospice, which supported her nan.

Ava Knott crafted her own Gonks, which she sold at the Christmas Market and one of the Garden of Lights celebration evenings at the Hospice with her mum Cheryl.

The 10-year-old from Ashton-under-Lyne made around 85 in total – some of them even travelled as far as France!

The Holden Clough Community Primary School pupil raised £201.60, which will make a difference to patients with any life-limiting illness from Tameside and Glossop in Willow Wood’s care.

Ava’s mum Cheryl said: “We also sold them to family and friends, and even friends of friends as other people heard about what she was doing and wanted to support her. We’ve done so many orders!

“We suggested a donation of £2 for one, but some people donated as much as £6.”

Helping the Hospice based in Ashton-under-Lyne is important to Ava’s family, and making the Gonks was a creative way for Ava to show her own support.

Cheryl explained: “We lost my mum, Ava’s nan Lynn Elizabeth Knott, in October 2022 so Ava knows how much this has meant to us as a family. The Hospice supported us when we needed it.

“It started off when my sister, Ava’s auntie Michaela, came around one day and, as the weather was bad outside, she suggested making some Gonks.

“We got some wool out and then she said all we needed was a toilet roll holder. That’s how they started to make them.

“Ava then carried on making them and then she asked me if we could sell them as we had been saying how good they were. She then came up with the idea of giving the money she raised to Willow Wood.

“I put a Facebook post on with a picture of three of the Gonks, saying that Ava was thinking about selling these to raise money for Willow Wood in memory of her nan and before we knew it, orders were coming in. Every day, people were messaging asking for a particular colour.

“She made a variety of colours and I helped her out with the gluing part but she’s done it mainly on her own, in her own time after school and at weekends. She’s been very enthusiastic about it.”

Selling the festive-themed Gonks has encouraged Ava to think about more fundraising ideas for the Hospice.

Cheryl said: “We’ve got Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day coming up and she’s been thinking about what she can do for those, so she’ll be busy over the next few weeks!”

Ava is grateful for all of the support she has received so far.

The youngster told us: “I want to thank my mum and my auntie Michaela for helping me and giving me the idea. My grandad Allan has also been very supportive.”

If you would like to join Ava in helping to raise funds for Willow Wood Hospice in any way, you can contact our Fundraising Team by emailing fundraising@willowwood.org.uk or call 0161 330 7788.

By Adam Higgins

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Donate your unwanted belongings to Willow Wood

Willow Wood Hospice is encouraging local residents to start the new year by having a declutter and generously donating any items or gifts they no longer want, need or use.  

Did you get more shirts than you’ll ever wear for Christmas, or perhaps a pair of jeans that isn’t your size or style?

Maybe you’ve got a book you’ve already read sitting on a shelf, or a board game you’ve already played gathering dust in a cupboard?

The Hospice is hoping that people will consider donating these new or used items to ensure they become the gift that keeps on giving.

You can feel a lot better knowing that having a clear-out can make the house feel calmer post-Christmas and the items you donate to Willow Wood’s charity shops will be re-sold to help raise vital funds to support the care of patients from the local community with life-limiting illnesses.

The Hospice has six charity shops across Tameside and Glossop, in addition to the Purchase and Donate (PAD) Furniture Shop in Stalybridge and Distribution Centre in Ashton-under-Lyne.

Willow Wood needs at least £3.3 million every year to continue operating and, with only 20 per cent of that funding coming by way of central government, the Hospice relies on the generosity of the community it serves.

Supporting Willow Wood’s shops is one way you can help and our team of dedicated staff and volunteers will gratefully receive any donations of items during opening hours to keep the shelves stocked – with the exception of duvets, car seats and crash helmets.

Furniture will also be accepted at the Purchase and Donate (PAD) Furniture Shop on Shepley Street in Stalybridge.

See where your nearest Willow Wood Hospice shop is and check the opening hours at www.willowwood.org.uk/shop-locations

People can make their donations worth an extra 25 per cent for the Hospice by signing up to Gift Aid. By filling out a simple form when dropping off your donations, Willow Wood will receive an extra 25p from the government for every £1 raised from donated goods and it won’t cost you a penny.

Pauline Lunt, Head of Retail at Willow Wood Hospice, said: “There’s no better time than the new year to clear space in your wardrobe or from your shelves and cupboards. We would be incredibly grateful if you could donate any belongings you don’t want or need any more to our Willow Wood charity shops and we will find a loving new home for them. You will be helping us to be there for our patients and their families when they need us most.

“By extending the season of goodwill and donating your unwanted items to Willow Wood Hospice, you will also be helping to reduce waste.

“Whilst dropping off your donations, you might even spot something you like and bag yourself a bargain.”

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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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Skydiving great grandma flying high for Willow Wood

A remarkable great grandmother has helped to raise over £3,000 to support patient care at Willow Wood Hospice after taking to the skies to leap from a plane.

Sylvia Heatley, who turns 80 at Christmas, braved a 7,500ft skydive for the Hospice earlier this year, alongside her granddaughters Ashley Clifton, 34, and Karys Heatley, 24.

Sylvia wanted to keep the final amount they had raised a surprise for the Grand Ball, held on Friday 20th October at The Village Hotel in Ashton-under-Lyne, where four generations of her family were in attendance to receive a big cheque to present to the Hospice.

In total, Sylvia and her granddaughters donated a fantastic £3,408.37 to Willow Wood, whose staff cared for Sylvia’s husband of 59 years, Barry, who sadly died from throat cancer a year ago.

Sylvia, from Mottram in Tameside, praised the work of the Hospice, saying: “I can’t thank them enough. They are just a wonderful organisation. Everything about the ball was great – the room, the food, the music, the volunteers – just everything.”

The trio embarked on their skydive endeavour over the August bank holiday weekend, taking off from the Black Knights Skydiving centre near Lancaster.

Sylvia described it as ‘amazing’ but admitted: “I enjoyed it but I didn’t enjoy the freefall!”

She added: “I’m glad I did it, it was a bucket list moment. It was the best day and all the family supported us on the day. To do it with two of my grandchildren was special.

“It was a cloudy day which made it scary but you don’t have time to think about it. Ashley didn’t want to see her nanna get thrown out of a plane so she went before me.

“The staff at Black Knights looked after us and put me at ease – the instructor even joked about whether we had checked the parachutes!

“Ashley and Carys wanted to jump from 15,000ft but went from 7,500ft like me. They said afterwards that they wanted to do it again.”

Sylvia would like to thank everybody who has donated and supported their fundraising efforts.

“We are very grateful for all of the incredible support we have received,” she said. “When we told everyone about the skydive and what Willow Wood did for Barry, people were happy to give.

“I want to give a special mention to Manchester Royal Infirmary Social Club and Tourist Security Group for helping to raise money, through my son Lee.”

Ashley, who is from Ashton-under-Lyne, described the skydive as ‘the best experience she has ever had’.

“It was simply amazing,” she explained. “There’s nothing like it. It was a really positive and emotional day, especially with our family there to support us.

“We had a two-and-a-half hour wait for the weather to clear up, and the anticipation during that time built up. I was wondering ‘Can I do this?’ but it was the best experience I have ever had.”

Sam Duncan, Director of Fundraising and Communications at Willow Wood Hospice, commented: “Sylvia is an inspiration to us all. What an absolute legend she is!

“It costs at least £3.3 million to run Willow Wood each year and we only receive 20 per cent in Government funding. The remaining 80 per cent comes from the generosity of our local community.

“It’s because of the support of fundraisers like Sylvia, Ashley and Karys that we can continue to provide specialist palliative care to the people of Tameside and Glossop. We thank them all and it was a privilege to celebrate their achievement at our Grand Ball.”

Sylvia has pledged that she and her family will continue to support the Hospice. She is considering the possibility of further fundraising – with a wing walk planned next, so watch this space!

By Adam Higgins

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Hospice benefits from Glossop car show proceeds

Willow Wood Hospice has received a generous donation of £600 from the proceeds of this year’s classic car show in Glossop.

It’s organised every year by Glossop Vehicle Enthusiasts Club and is always a well-attended and great event.

This year, the hospice was chosen as one of three charities to benefit from the show in Manor Park on 20th August.

There were more cars, just under 300 in total, and stallholders than ever before.

Woody made a crowd pleasing outing, our Teddy Bear Lottery was busy throughout the day and the weather was kind!

Our Lottery Manager Diane Austin-Hughes and Head of Retail Pauline Lunt were also interviewed by Tameside Radio.

Lisa Buckley, Community Fundraiser at Willow Wood Hospice, said: “We were delighted to be part of the day and also to have been chosen as one of the charities to benefit from the event.

“It was a great day, which was well organised, and we hope to be there again next year.”

The GVEC committee said: “A huge thank you to everyone that made the show possible and supported the event. We’re really proud to continue to host the largest Car Show in the High Peak area and we are already planning for next summer’s event.”

The date for next year’s show is 4th August 2024.

By Adam Higgins

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Charity donates iPads to hospice

A local charity has kindly donated seven tablets to Willow Wood Hospice so that patients can browse the internet.

The pre-loved iPads have been given to the hospice by Tameside Community Computers CIC, which support local community groups and charities who are in a less fortunate position to have access to data and technology.

Lisa Buckley, who received the donation on behalf of the hospice, said: “We are very grateful to Tameside Community Computers for giving us these iPads which our patients in the hospice will be able to make use of and have internet access.”

The charity opened in 2022 on the back of amazing support that Mike Brooks, Cerid Grimshaw and the team at Zen Tec Network Solutions provided to the local community throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.

From December 2020 to August 2022, Zen Tec Network Solutions donated 2,822 devices completely free of charge to the local community living in digital poverty and estimate the value to be over £776,050.

Zen Tec are still on the lookout for items that are no longer needed from schools, businesses and individuals that are six years older or younger. They will take your appliances and update them ready to be donated to someone in need.

If you have any items you would like to donate, you can get in touch with Cerid by emailing ceridg@tamesidecc.org

To see the work that Tameside Community Computers do, visit www.tamesidecc.org

By Adam Higgins

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Dunelm store in Ashton helps to furnish hospice

Dunelm in Ashton-under-Lyne has donated a generous amount of homewares and furniture to Willow Wood Hospice, who provide high quality care and support across the Tameside and Glossop community.

The donation of comfy chairs, cushions, lamps, bookshelves and accessories have been used to furnish the hospice’s bereavement rooms, meaning loved ones can spend quality time in a homely and comfortable space.

The store members at Ashton-under-Lyne chose to donate to Willow Wood Hospice as their staff have supported many of Dunelm’s store colleague’s friends and family, while the hospice also provided incredible care for two previous Dunelm employees during an extremely hard time.

Summer Law, Community Champion at Dunelm Ashton-under-Lyne, said: “The team at Willow Wood Hospice do such an important job caring for local people and we wanted to do our bit to make sure they continue to be cared for in a space that feels like a home away from home.”

Lisa Buckley, from Willow Wood Hospice, added: “We are delighted with the makeover the team from Dunelm Ashton-under-Lyne, it has provided in an extremely important space within the Hospice. We’ve received lovely feedback on how relaxing and peaceful the room is, we can’t thank the Dunelm team enough.”

The donation is part of the homeware retailer’s series of initiatives in the North West, which sees its network of stores support members of their local community in a variety of different ways, during what is a challenging time for so many.

The initiatives include the store’s new Home to Home homeware donation scheme, part of Dunelm’s wider commitment to a circular economy.

The Home to Home scheme, which is available at the Ashton-under-Lyne store, as well as Dunelm’s 17 other North West stores, allows customers to donate pre-loved homeware items from any retailer, to be redistributed to local charities and community groups in the region.

It enables people to reduce household clutter without sending items to landfill, while benefiting those in their local communities who may otherwise go without essential homewares.

From Tameside Reporter on Monday, 3 July 2023