Category: Third party supporters

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Teenager hits the ground running with fundraising challenge

A teenage girl from Tameside is lacing up her trainers to embark on a bumper running challenge to raise funds for Willow Wood Hospice.

Freya Goodwin has doubled her target so she is now running 60k in total by taking on 5k runs at Parkrun at Oldham’s Alexandra Park over 12 consecutive Saturday mornings.

Running is something Freya doesn’t normally like doing but the 14-year-old is pushing herself out of her comfort zone, in memory of a close family friend who received end-of-life care at the Hospice in Ashton-under-Lyne last year.

“I want to raise money in memory of a dear family friend who sadly passed away far too soon last year and they have always supported me,” Freya explained.

“Her husband very kindly nominated Willow Wood as the charity that he and his wife would want to support through my fundraising.”

Freya wearing her Willow Wood t-shirt and holding her Willow Wood water bottle during one of her Parkruns

Freya takes on a different challenge at this time every year as part of her studies at Mossley Hollins High School, where community and fundraising is part of their Character Awards initiative.

“Last year I walked the distance of a marathon over the month of March which was a lot of hiking around Dove Stone and different places,” said the Year 9 pupil.

“For this fundraiser, I really wanted to challenge myself by doing something far out of my comfort zone. Most people who know me know that my nemesis is running.

“I can walk, swim, play netball and volleyball but I’m not particularly good at running. I am not expecting to get great times. This challenge is going to be difficult but, as this fundraiser means so much, I will give it my all.”

It’s a family affair as Freya is being accompanied on her runs by mum Faye, dad Steven and their dog Honey.

She has already smashed her initial fundraising target of £100 and hopes to raise as much money as possible for Willow Wood, which provides high quality, multi-professional care, support and education across Tameside and Glossop.

You can make a donation on Freya’s JustGiving page here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/freya-goodwin-1709142095339

If you are taking on a running event or a challenge for Willow Wood, send an email to fundraising@willowwood.org.uk so the Hospice’s team can support you along the way.

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Local author pens children’s poems to raise hospice funds

A local author has penned a bespoke treasury of poems to help raise funds for Willow Wood Hospice, which she describes as “a very special place”.

‘Into the Willow Wood’ by Johanne Lee is a variety of poems aimed at children aged 7 to 11, that she hopes adults will enjoy reading too.

The book covers a wide range of subjects from self-belief and faith, to fairytale and nature.

Johanne, who lives in Glossop but is originally from Droylsden, has always had a keen interest in reading and writing poems since her childhood.

It was only during the Covid pandemic that the mother-of-three, who also recently became a grandma, decided to combine her poems together into published books and join poetry groups.

“Poetry has become a daily practice for me,” the 56-year-old told us. “I love poetry and found a way with the picture books to raise awareness in early years settings of things like conservation and kindness.”

‘Into the Willow Wood’ is out now and is the 11th book of Johanne’s collection – which has helped to raise important subjects in children’s minds, as well as awareness and funds for both local and national charities.

The front cover of Johanne’s book called ‘Into the Willow Wood’ which will help to raise funds for Willow Wood Hospice

“The concerning thing to me is how much charity is needed,” said Johanne, who is a former dance teacher, hairdresser and teaching assistant.

“Willow Wood Hospice is a place I’ve known about for a long time. I know so many people who have been in the Hospice and I’ve always wanted to support it in some way. It has helped so many people over the years.

“Local charities like Willow Wood are amazing and they are so imaginative in the ways they raise funds – which never stops and it’s never easy.

“I wanted to put my words and poems to good use. I genuinely wanted to do something with purpose and I want to raise as much money as possible for Willow Wood.”

Fittingly, a poem dedicated to the Hospice called ‘Into the Willow Wood’ features in the book.

The butterfly on the book’s front cover is also a symbol to make the book more unique to the Hospice.

“I know Willow Wood releases butterflies every year and a friend of mine goes to the event,” she said. “I knew it was something associated closely with the Hospice and I wanted it to feature prominently on the cover.”

VIDEO: Listen to Johanne reading one of her poems from the book, called The Truth Fairies, below…

The book, which is around 50 pages in length, was a couple of years in the making.

“I write poetry every single day and some things are to a prompt and some things are specific,” Johanne told us.

“With these poems, I realised they are very different – some are almost fable, which I loved as a child. They are poems that all of a sudden I realised were this book, so I’ve probably been writing them over the last two years and I’ve realised this was the place for them.”

Johanne held a book launch on Friday 12th April – the day it was released – at the Masonic Lodge in Glossop, which was a great success. She raised £550 on the night, which she has kindly donated to the Hospice.

‘Into the Willow Wood’ is available to buy at Dark Peak Books & Gifts in Glossop and through online retailers such as Amazon and Waterstones as a hardback for £14.99. It will soon be available in the Hospice reception shop, on our online shop and at forthcoming fundraising events – we’ll keep you updated! 

The book will also be accessible in the future as an eBook.