Tag: Fundraisers

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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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Willow Wood Ball raises grand total for hospice

Hundreds of people attended the Willow Wood Grand Ball, which has raised thousands of pounds in vital funds for the Hospice.

The glittering charity event was held at The Village Hotel in Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester, where the Hospice is based.

After stepping off the red carpet with a complimentary drink, attendees enjoyed a three-course meal before dancing the night away. Live entertainment was also provided by swing band Schwing.

The Civic Mayor of Tameside, Councillor Tafheen Sharif, was among the special guests lending their support.

A silent auction, auction and grand raffle with some fantastically donated prizes all helped boost funds on the evening. This included a glove signed by Ederson, which was kindly donated by Manchester City Football Club and raised £600 alone.

In total, Willow Wood is delighted to report that the Grand Ball has raised over £25,000, with more money still coming in.

Karen Houlston, CEO of Willow Wood Hospice, said: “It was a fantastic night and has been a welcome and overdue event. It felt a special occasion to have the Willow Wood Ball back on the calendar.

“After everything that has gone on over the last few years with the pandemic, it was just so nice to see everyone back together and dancing and enjoying themselves.

“A big thank you as well to all of our sponsors, particularly our main event sponsor Gerard McDermott KC, but also the many others who have donated some wonderful raffle and auction prizes.”

Those prizes included everything from weekend breaks away to amazing hampers of food and drink, plus beauty products and many more.

Sam Duncan, Director of Fundraising and Communications at Willow Wood Hospice, commented: “It’s been fantastic and quite moving to see everyone arriving on the red carpet and the dance floor was full, so thank you to the wonderful band Schwing.

“I also have to say a huge thank you to the fundraising team and all the volunteers for helping to make the event happen and all of the local businesses too who have given us so much support, and our main sponsor Gerard McDermott KC.”

Sam added that it was a proud and emotional evening, saying: “It’s a unique privilege working at a hospice as you build connections with family and friends of people who we have cared for and those connections last a lifetime and those family and friends were with us at the ball. It was a very moving but rewarding event.”

Cllr Sharif, Tameside’s civic mayor who also represents the Mossley ward, said she wanted to support the Grand Ball because the hospice is so close to her heart.

She said: “I visited officially to meet the staff and volunteers recently and you are just so taken aback by how peaceful everything is and I wanted to give the ball my full support.”

By Adam Higgins