Tag: Fundraising

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Crown green bowls match raises hospice funds

A club in Ashton-under-Lyne held a crown green bowls match to raise funds for Willow Wood Hospice.

Despite the soggy, wet and muddy bowling green, locals battled it out throughout the day on Sunday 8th October to scoop the cup prize.

It was won by Stephen Radcliffe, after he beat John McGhee in the final round.

The match was organised by Waterloo and Taunton Conservative Club, who raised a fantastic £320 for the hospice – which provides free, specialist palliative care for patients with life-limiting illnesses in Tameside and Glossop.

Lisa Buckley, Community Fundraiser at Willow Wood, said: “We are very grateful to the club for organising the crown green bowls match and choosing us to benefit from the brilliant amount that was raised. Thank you to everyone who took part and we hope everyone had a great day despite the difficult conditions.”

Leon Tamcken, Chairman of Waterloo and Taunton Conservative Club, said: “A huge thank you to everyone who supported this fundraiser, which is now in its eighth year of being sponsored by Tameside Glass Ltd.

“I would also like to thank Rob Bailey, Manager at Howarth Timber, the UK timbers merchants in Ashton-under-Lyne, for their kind donation of wooden boards to get the crown green looking tip top for the event.”

By Adam Higgins 

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Hikers take on Great Ridge Walk for Willow Wood

A group of determined fundraisers laced up their boots to embark on a challenging walk in the Peak District and raise vital funds for Willow Wood Hospice.

Around 20 people took part in the Great Ridge Walk last Saturday (23 September) and have raised around £4,500 in total to support patient care.

The seven-mile walk, organised by the hospice based in Ashton-under-Lyne in Greater Manchester, started from Castleton Visitors Centre in the morning and took in some stunning scenery along the way.

On what was a nice sunny day, the group took in Lose Hill and Back Tor along the great ridge to Mam Tor and came down with beautiful views of the Dark Peak, White Peak and Peveril Castle.

The hike, led by three experienced guides from Dark Peak Guides, finished at The Bulls Head pub in Castleton in the afternoon where walkers enjoyed some well-earned refreshments.

Team Willow Wood, including the hospice’s CEO Karen Houlston, raised over £1,000 alone.

Laura Marinelli, Events Fundraiser at Willow Wood Hospice, who organised the walk, said: “There was a good team spirit amongst the group and everyone who took part enjoyed the experience. It was a tough challenge but everyone did very well.

“We are grateful to everybody who got involved and sponsored our walkers to raise an amazing amount to support patient care at our hospice.”

Sam Duncan, Director of Fundraising and Communications at Willow Wood Hospice, commented: “I was delighted to be one of our Team Willow Wood walkers. It was physically hard as most of the route was uphill and some of us picked up a few blisters but it was all worth it. The weather was kind to us and there was a lovely atmosphere as we were walking.

“We had a fantastic time in a beautiful part of the world and the money we’ve raised will be hugely beneficial to supporting patients at Willow Wood who need our care.”

By Adam Higgins

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Take a trip down football memory lane for Willow Wood

Chris Smith, Lisa Buckley and Brian Wild outside the hospice

An evening of funny stories, memories and fun with three former professional footballers will be held in Tameside in aid of Willow Wood Hospice.

It’s the fourth time the nostalgic event called ‘A trip down football memory lane’ is taking place, organised by Brian Wild and Chris Smith, who are long-time supporters of the hospice.

Brian, a former Civic Mayor of Tameside, was once a Trustee at Willow Wood and has even dressed up as Woody, the hospice’s mascot, on occasion.

The line-up for the nostalgic night is former Manchester City, Manchester United and England winger Peter Barnes, ex-Manchester City and Preston North End defender Tommy Booth, and former Everton and Arsenal midfielder Trevor Ross, who was born in Ashton-under-Lyne and now works in Oldham.

They will be in conversation with former top-flight referee Roger Dilkes, who will be the Master of Ceremonies for the night.

It’s on Friday 10 November at Dukinfield Masonic Hall, starting at 8pm.

Chris said: “We love doing it for Willow Wood, the hospice is so supportive and a great organisation. Everybody in the area has had their hearts touched by Willow Wood at some time.

“My wife passed away in Willow Wood and I’ve always had a longing desire to help fund it because hospices only get very limited funding from the NHS and have to find the rest of the money needed to keep going.

“We put this together, which usually raises between £1,500 and £2,000 each year, and everyone gets to have a good night. We would love to see you there.”

Brian added: “Willow Wood is a place we hope we never need but the hospice gives first-class care to everybody so I will always do what I can to support it.

“We love putting on the Football Night Fundraiser. We raise a lot of money on the raffle alone so, if there’s anyone who has any raffle prizes – however small – that they are willing to donate, we would gratefully accept them and happily pick them up from you.”

Lisa Buckley, Community Fundraiser at Willow Wood Hospice, commented: “Without people like Brian and Chris organising these events, Willow Wood would not continue to operate so we cannot thank them enough.

“Unfortunately, this year we are facing a deficit of over £600,000 so when people step up to put on these events, they make a massive difference. If you’re a football fan, or just want a good night out, please get a ticket if you can and help support the hospice.”

Tickets cost £10 including pie and mushy peas – which are generously donated by a volunteer, Denton councillor Denise Ward.

To get your tickets, call 0161 308 2685 or email Chris at smithowls@gmail.com

By Adam Higgins

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Cousins brave skydive for Willow Wood

Hannah Whalley with her £600 cheque of money raised for Willow Wood Hospice

Two brave cousins have taken a huge leap by jumping out of a plane to raise a fantastic £600 for Willow Wood Hospice.

Hannah Whalley, 29, and her older cousin Rosie Lawton, 32, who both live in Stalybridge, completed the epic skydive from 14,000ft at Skydive North West in the Lake District.

They decided to take on the daring challenge after their grandad Michael Washer was cared for by the dedicated team at Willow Wood Hospice in Ashton-under-Lyne.

Michael was diagnosed with prostate cancer which became bone cancer and, after staying in the hospice for just over a week, he sadly passed away in June this year at the age of 77.

Hannah said: “I loved coming to the hospice to visit my grandad, I never wanted to leave. The nurses were amazing and really lovely, they also made sure me and my family were looked after as well as my grandad.

“I wanted to do something to support the hospice and something a bit different for me.

“I was scared beforehand because I’m terrified of heights and I don’t like flying but, once I was in my suit and boarding the plane, I was fine.

“It was a gorgeous day and we could see Blackpool and the Isle of Man from the sky.

“I would like to thank Lisa Buckley and the team at Willow Wood Hospice for all of their help with the skydive.

“Thank you to everyone who sponsored me and to my family for all of their support.”

Hannah was cheered on by her nine-year-old daughter Annie on the day.

“She was wearing a t-shirt to support me and shouted ‘love you’ which was just so lovely,” Hannah added.

Hannah enjoyed the experience so much that she is thinking of doing another skydive to support the hospice in the future.

By Adam Higgins

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Golf Day gives boost to hospice funds

Twenty teams enjoyed a tee-rific experience at this year’s Martin Wild Golf Day in support of their local hospice.

In total, the annual fundraiser at Ashton-under-Lyne Golf Club made £6,500 to help boost care for patients at Willow Wood Hospice.

The event on 19 August was kindly sponsored by Coolair Services, Marshall Peters and Dukinfield and Stalybridge Rotary.

The winning team was Walsh’s Angels, who stood out not only as this year’s champions but also for having the sole female player of the tournament.

Players were well looked after with plenty of refreshments and there was a team prize table for the teams finishing first to sixth.

Laura Marinelli, Events Fundraiser at Willow Wood Hospice, said: “It was the fourth time that I have organised this event and it raised more money than last year for our hospice so I’m truly thrilled with the outcome.

“Thank you to all of the volunteers on the day, the players for taking part and our generous corporate sponsors who contributed to the prizes.”

The event is promoted by Martin Wild, a former Lancashire amateur golf champion and a long-time supporter of the hospice.

If you’re interested in taking part in the next Golf Day, look out for details about next year’s event in due course.

By Adam Higgins

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Walkers invited to exciting hike for hospice

Team Willow Wood on the hospice’s most recent trek up Snowdon, Wales, in May 2022

Walkers of all levels of experience are being invited to lace up their hiking boots and embark on an epic walk whilst helping to raise vital funds for Willow Wood Hospice.

The hospice has organised ‘The Great Ridge Walk’ on Saturday 23 September.

Starting in Castleton via Cave Dale in the beautiful Peak District, there will be a gradual ascent via Windy Knoll, where the group will reach the summit of Mam Tor and then keep their height whilst walking along the ridge of Hollins Cross, Back Tor and on to Lose Hill.

The gradual descent will then bring the walkers back to Castleton to enjoy some well-earned refreshments.

The seven-mile hike will be led by an experienced guide from Dark Peak Guides.

The cost of registration is £20 and participants are asked to seek sponsorship for at least £200, but the hospice can help with support for your fundraising efforts.

Dogs are welcome and walkers must be over the age of 16 unless they hold an AALA License.

To sign up, visit https://willowwood.org.uk/events/greatridge

The hospice is also assembling a Team Willow Wood to take part in this adventure.

CEO Karen Houlston, Clinical Director Nicola Cheetham, Director of Fundraising and Communications Sam Duncan, Events Fundraiser Laura Marinelli, and Donations and Administration Assistant Lisa Knowles have signed up so far.

Laura, who has organised the walk, said: “Participants will walk along one of the best ridge walks in the country, with breath-taking views of the Edale and Hope Valleys, as well as the outskirts of Kinder Scout.

“We would love to see as many people take part as possible for what will be a difficult but extremely rewarding challenge, all to raise money for our beloved hospice.

“Alternatively, for those who may be unable to take part but still want to support the event, you can sponsor Team Willow Wood via our JustGiving page https://www.justgiving.com/page/team-willow-wood.”

By Adam Higgins

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Skydiver Sylvia to brave 7,500ft plunge

A high-flying great grandmother who turns 80 this year is taking to the skies to leap from a plane for Willow Wood Hospice.

Sylvia Heatley is braving a 7,500ft skydive this summer in loving memory of her husband Barry, who was cared for at the hospice.

Sylvia explained: “I lost my husband Barry to throat cancer last October and Willow Wood were amazing.

“They provided palliative care and went above and beyond for him, so this is my way of giving back. They can’t ever do enough for you.

“Barry and I were married for 59 wonderful years, and shared many amazing memories.”

Barry was diagnosed in June last year and given just months to live. He fought against the odds but sadly passed in October 2022. He was 79 and would have celebrated his 80th birthday this month.

Sylvia, who lived in Gorton as a child, met Barry when they were almost 20 and they married when they were 21.

“We first met in the former Domino Club on Grey Mare Lane in Openshaw and he just said ‘you’re for me’ and that was it from there – we had been together ever since.”

The couple settled in Droylsden and Barry worked as a joiner by trade, with Sylvia working in customer services for JD Williams.

They moved to Mottram in their retirement just a couple of years ago. Sylvia said: “Barry fought many illnesses throughout his life, but this one was very sudden and unfortunately one he could not fight.”

The remarkable great grandmother, who has eight grandchildren and four great grandchildren – with another on the way – says she likes to give back and so this is her way of saying thank you to everyone at the hospice for their care.

She has no fear of heights, having already completed an abseil on behalf of the hospice previously.

“I do like to give back and in the past abseiled down the side of Ikea in Ashton and I’ve also taken part in ‘Walks 4 Life’, but this one is solely for the love of my life,” she says.

Sylvia will not be alone in her skydiving endeavour, with her two granddaughters Ashley Clifton and Karys Heatley also joining her.

Ashley, 34, from Ashton, said: “I’ve never done a skydive before, but it’s definitely on my bucket list to do. So when Nana said she was going to do one, I said I would have to do it with her and Karys said she would too.”

Both granddaughters joked that they were looking forward to ‘landing’ most of all, but Ashley added: “We’re looking forward to the adrenalin rush and doing something for such an important cause. We are doing something we want to do, but other people will benefit and get so much out of it.

“We couldn’t have got through the last three months of my grandad’s life without Willow Wood and nothing was too great an ask for my nana.”

Karys, 24, who lives in Oxfordshire, added: “It will be a sense of achievement, of giving back and saying thank you to Willow Wood.”

Both said: “Willow Wood provided amazing care to our grandad and we are looking to raise as much money as we can to help the Willow Wood team continue the amazing work they do.

“We miss him very much and would love to do our part to give back and support individuals and their families fighting cancer.”

Sylvia concluded: “We miss him every minute of every day and hope we are doing him proud.”

Sam Duncan, Willow Wood fundraising and communications director, said: “Sylvia is an inspiration to us all. What a legend! It costs £3.3m to run Willow Wood each year and we only receive 20 per cent government funding. The remaining 80 per cent comes from the generosity of our local community.

“It is 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.”

The family trio will be braving the skydive this August bank holiday weekend on August 27 at noon, taking off from the Black Knights Skydiving centre near Lancaster.

They have set up three just giving pages and if you would like to donate, you can visit:

• Sylvia: https://www.just- giving.com/page/sylvia-heat- ley-1686074229771

• Karys: https://www.just- giving.com/page/karys-heat- ley-1686117703071

• Ashley: https://www.just- giving.com/page/ashley-bram- hall-1686074077798

From Tameside Reporter on Thursday 20 July 2023

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Quiz night boosts hospice funds

Friday saw the return of the much loved Quiz night organised by Hospice Ambassadors Chris and Jo Hinds.
Chris and Jo put in so much time and effort into making the quiz nights great fun and with picture rounds, music rounds, general knowledge and much more!
The event was enjoyed by all who attended.
As well as raising many smiles during the night, the terrific duo raised a whopping £1,411.10!
Thank you Chris and Jo for all you do for our wonderful Hospice, we are proud of all you do.