Category: Fundraising
Lincoln Cathedral partners with Hospice to light up Lincoln this month
Lincoln Cathedral will be partnering with St Barnabas Hospice at their annual Torchlight Procession.
On Tuesday 26th November, Lincoln Cathedral will be joining St Barnabas Hospice to remember loved ones at the Torchlight Procession in Lincoln. Following the lighting of the Tree of Life, the Cathedral will officially switch their new lights on – blue and yellow to honour the Hospice.
Chris Wheway, Chief Executive at St Barnabas Hospice, said:
“The Torchlight Procession is the event in the Hospice calendar which moves me the most. Walking shoulder-to-shoulder with people from across Lincolnshire who are remembering loved ones is truly special to be part of and such a sight to behold.
“Seeing the light of a thousand torches light up the night is an incredibly powerful image and one that will remain with me for a very long time. It is very moving when the Procession pauses outside our Inpatient Unit to play Amazing Grace for the patients. The nurses will come out to watch the Procession go past with patients who are well enough, and they open the doors on the ward so those who aren’t as well can still hear the music.
“The lighting-up of our Tree of Life will be extra special this year as we have partnered with Lincoln Cathedral. Once the lights of our loved ones are shining brightly on the Tree of Life, Lincoln Cathedral will officially switch on their new lights. These will be turned blue and yellow to honour our Hospice and all the patients we have cared for.”
The Revd Canon John Patrick, Subdean of Lincoln, said:
“We are honoured to partner with St Barnabas Hospice and play a part in the Torchlight Procession and the lighting of the Tree of Life; it is a truly moving event which brings the whole city together. 
“Light is a symbol of hope and comfort, and a reminder of God’s presence in our lives. The Torchlight Procession gives people a focal point to remember loved ones and to recollect the light they brought into their lives.
“The Cathedral too is a focal point for the whole city of Lincoln. I hope that the sight of this much-loved building illuminated once again inspires a sense of hope, endurance and optimism in all who see it.
“It is fitting that the blue and yellow of St Barnabas shine on the Cathedral to recognise the wonderful work of the organisation and all the people they have helped.”
Due to the works currently taking place at Lincoln Cathedral, the Lincoln Tree of Life will stand outside The Lincoln Hotel for one year only. Thanks to the generosity of The Lincoln Hotel, the Procession route will remain largely unchanged and supporters will still have a lovely view of the Cathedral in the background of the tree.
Before the Procession there will be a church celebration held at Our Lady of Lincoln Church (LN2 2HE) from 6pm. This will feature touching readings, music and a time for quiet reflection. Candles will also be lit in remembrance. This celebration is optional to attend but will finish in time for those wanting to attend the Torchlight Procession too.
The Torchlight Procession will leave Claytons Sports Ground at 7.30pm, so the Hospice is asking people to arrive for 7pm to leave time for purchasing torches/lanterns and joining the Procession. Torches will be available to purchase for anyone age 16+ for £5 each. For those under 16 or those not wishing to hold a torch, battery-powered lanterns will be available for £3.50.
St Barnabas is asking people to register their attendance for the Torchlight Procession. Supporters can do so at www.stbarnabashospice.co.uk/torchlight19
Hospice looking for corporate volunteers for their Tree-cycle appeal
St Barnabas Hospice is appealing for a range of corporate volunteers to help with their Christmas Tree-cycle in January 2020.
St Barnabas Hospice is aiming to raise over £30,000 in their January 2020 Christmas Tree-cycle appeal. This would cover the cost of running the dispensary so around 400 inpatients can access pain relief medication.
The Hospice is looking for wood chipping companies and businesses with vans to volunteer their time and staff from Saturday 11th to Friday 17th January.
The Christmas Tree-cycle takes place every January, when the Hospice and a group of volunteers work together to collect Christmas trees from across Lincolnshire. They take them to local wood chipping companies so they can be recycled. In return for this service, supporters make a donation to the Hospice. Whether your business can help for a day, a few days or the whole week, the Hospice would be delighted to hear from you.
If you can support with vans and drivers, this role would involve driving a set route to pick up Christmas trees from people’s driveways, then taking them to a local wood chipping company. The Hospice is looking for businesses with large fleets of vans, businesses who can spare just a couple of people and a van, and all the businesses in between. It really is a group effort and every single helper will be making a huge impact on end-of-life care across Lincolnshire.
As well as vans and drivers, St Barnabas are on the hunt for Lincolnshire-based wood chipping companies to act as a base for vans to bring trees to. These companies are welcome to do what they wish with the chippings.
Melissa Gaffney, Event Fundraiser at St Barnabas Hospice, said:
“Our Tree-cycle campaign can only go ahead each year with the generous help of local businesses and volunteers. This year, our aim is to collect enough money in donations to fund pain relief for around 400 inpatients in Lincoln and Grantham. This would mean raising over £30,000.
“If your business is looking to do a good deed this Christmas, I’d love you to consider St Barnabas. Your support will help us generate more money to provide care and support to patients, families and carers across Lincolnshire.”
If your business can support in any way, please get in touch with St Barnabas Hospice. For more information or to offer your support, please email melissa.gaffney@stbarnabashospice.co.uk or call 01522 540 300.
Hospice Fundraisers complete 50km Great Wall of China trek
Five incredible supporters have raised around 15,000 after trekking the Great Wall of China for five days.
An incredible group of St Barnabas Hospice staff and supporters have trekked for 35 hours over five days, covered more than 50km and reached the dizzying heights of 2,200 metres above sea level. 
In some places on the wall, the team were walking on unrestored sections which were less than a metre wide and had sheer drops on either side. They stayed with local lodges each night and sampled a whole range of local delicacies during their stay, as well as being able to immerse themselves in the local culture.
Caroline Swindin, Corporate & Community Lead at St Barnabas Hospice, is one of the brave staff members to take on this challenge. Caroline said:
“I’m over the moon that we all finished the trek as a group. What a fantastic experience it was, and I couldn’t have asked for a better group of people to share it with. The biggest challenge was probably how uneven the ground was
“Both myself and my colleague, Becca, have very personal reasons for trekking the Great Wall, as well as being fortunate enough to work for such an amazing charity. My mum was cared for by St Barnabas several years ago and the care both her and the whole family received was second to none. A close friend also received exceptional St Barnabas care. I will be forever grateful and will always continue doing all I can to raise money and awareness.” 
Becca Hooton, Community Fundraiser at St Barnabas Hospice, added:
“It was very emotional when we completed the trek, and even more so when we arrived back in England and were reunited with our family. My mum, dad, neighbour and friend have all been cared for in a hospice and my journey was for them. I never imagined I could complete such a huge challenge, but I’m so proud of myself and the team for getting through it together.
Caroline finished:
“We have achieved so much more than we ever thought we could. The number of steps along both restored and unrestored sections of the wall at heights has been relentless but have presented us with the most stunning views imaginable.
“We are so incredibly proud to have undertaken this challenge, raising funds and helping to make a real difference to the amazing care and support St Barnabas provides to thousands of people throughout Lincolnshire.”
Next year, St Barnabas Hospice is asking supporters to take on the challenge of trekking to the summit of Mount Toubkal in Morocco. This trek will take place over three days, with two additional days for flying out there. It costs £99 to sign up and the Hospice asks trekkers to raise a minimum of £1,650 in sponsorship money. To view more information or sign up, visit www.stbarnabashospice.co.uk/toubkal2020.
The first look at the Tree of Life which will be situated in Uphill Lincoln
Representatives from St Barnabas Hospice have visited Doddington Hall & Gardens to select this year’s Tree of Life.
On Wednesday 23rd October, representatives from St Barnabas Hospice met at Doddington Hall & Gardens for the annual selection of the Tree of Life, which will be visible in Uphill Lincoln over the Christmas period. 
Once again, Doddington Hall & Gardens have very kindly donated the tree to the Hospice, enabling people from across Lincolnshire to come and remember their loved ones at such a difficult time of year. Whether loved ones have been cared for by the Hospice or not, St Barnabas is inviting people to dedicate a light on the Tree of Life in their memory. Members of the public will then be invited to visit the Tree to see their light shine brightly and there will also be other Trees of Life across the county for those who can’t get to Lincoln.
On Tuesday 26th November, St Barnabas will be hosting their annual Torchlight Procession in Uphill Lincoln. Beginning at 7.30pm from Clayton’s Sports Ground, the route will see people walking past the St Barnabas Inpatient Unit carrying flaming torches in memory of their loved ones, before continuing through Lincoln’s iconic Bailgate. Due to the works currently taking place at Lincoln Cathedral, the route will finish at The Lincoln Hotel, which is where the Tree of Life will stand this Christmas. 
Once the Procession, readings and music have finished at The Lincoln Hotel, staff at the Lincoln Cathedral will be officially switching on their new lights. The lights will turn blue and yellow to honour St Barnabas and will be visible to those gathered around the Tree.
Louise Cotton, Events Fundraiser at St Barnabas Hospice, said:
“On behalf of the Hospice, I’d like to say a huge thank you to three incredible businesses at the heart of the community for coming together in support of St Barnabas. We are extremely grateful to Doddington Hall & Gardens, The Lincoln Hotel and Lincoln Cathedral for helping to make this year’s Torchlight Procession one to remember.
“The Tree of Life is an integral part of both the Torchlight Procession and our overall Light up a Life campaign, as it brings the community together in remembering loved ones at such a difficult time of year. Doddington Hall & Gardens’ commitment to our annual Light up a Life campaign is truly inspiring, and Lincoln simply would not look the same at Christmas without them.”
Members of the public who wish to dedicate a light on the Tree of Life can do so at www.stbarnabashospice.co.uk/lual. The Hospice is also asking those planning to come to the Torchlight Procession to register their attendance at www.stbarnabashospice.co.uk/torchlight19.
Fight Factory Wrestling hosts ‘Bodyslams to Cancer’ event in support of St Barnabas
Fight Factory UK will be holding their sixth annual ‘Bodyslams to Cancer’ wrestling event at One NK Leisure Centre, North Hykeham.
The event will take place on Sunday 20th October from 1pm and tickets range from £5 – £12 per person. All proceeds from this event will be donated to St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice.
The event promises to be an exciting show featuring a wide variety of wrestlers, all fighting to raise money for Lincolnshire’s local Hospice.
Hayden, a wrestler from Fight Factory Wrestling said:
“We support St Barnabas at our ‘Bodyslams to Cancer’ events because in 2012 my Mum was diagnosed with cancer for the second time and she was cared for by the Hospice.
The first of the Bodyslams events was planned so she could finally see me wrestling as she’d only seen video clips before. Sadly, she died before the show took place. So we decided to amp up the show to raise as much money as possible for St Barnabas and we have been doing it each year ever since.”
Fight Factory Wrestling UK is a Wrestling Company based at the Dutch Courage gym in South Hykeham. As well as running events like ‘Bodyslams to Cancer’ throughout the year, they also train members of the public who would like to learn how to wrestle.
Becca, Director of Fight Factory Wrestling UK, said:
“We provide training and facilities to people across Lincolnshire who want to do something different and to learn about wrestling. As well as being a lot of fun and a great confidence builder, it’s also a fantastic way to get fit and healthy.
“We welcome people of all abilities to come along and give it a go. You don’t need any prior knowledge of wrestling, we can train you from the very beginning. Everyone is welcome at Fight Factory Wrestling UK!”
Mike Pastor, St Barnabas Hospice Challenge Fundraiser said:
“Becca and Hayden are incredible. They’re doing something amazing for the Hospice that involves the whole community in such a unique way. They inject so much energy and time into the success of their fundraising events and we can’t thank them enough.
“It’s only thanks to the courage and kindness of people like Becca and Hayden that the Hospice can continue caring for over 10,500 people in Lincolnshire every year.”
To purchase tickets for the Bodyslams to Cancer 2019 event, please visit: www.ringsideworld.co.uk/fight-factory-upcoming-events
Popular Coffee Mornings return to help provide care in local communities
St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice is delighted to be hosting a number of Coffee Mornings at its Hospice sites this Autumn.
St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice is inviting local supporters to join them at one of their forthcoming Coffee Mornings. The following Coffee Mornings are taking place:
- Thursday 10th October – Louth Day Therapy Centre, Grimsby Road, LN11 0SX.
- Thursday 10th October – Grantham Day Therapy Centre, 86 Barrowby Road, NG31 8AF.
- Thursday 7th November – Gainsborough Day Therapy Centre, Front Street, Morton, DN21 3AD.
- Tuesday 12th November – St Barnabas Boston, Green Lane, PE21 9NB.
All are open 10am – 12pm and are free to attend. In addition to delicious homemade cakes, there will be a selection of activities along with St Barnabas Christmas cards and stock.
If you can’t make these dates, why not pop along to one of the Hospice’s weekly Community Coffee Mornings take place at the Grantham Day Therapy Centre every Monday (10am – 12pm) or Gainsborough Day Therapy Centre every Thursday (10am – 12pm).
Caroline Swindin, Corporate & Community Lead for St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice, said:
“It is always lovely to see our buildings bustling with visitors and everyone is very welcome. We will have our popular cake and tombola stall as well as other activities taking place.
“These Coffee Mornings provide a great opportunity for members of the public to come and have a look around their local Hospice facility and find out what hospice care means to so many in our communities.
“Guests can indulge in a slice of cake and a hot drink whilst relaxing, browsing stalls and trying their luck on the tombola.”
For more information, contact the St Barnabas Fundraising team on 01522 540 300 or email fundraising@stbarnabashospice.co.uk.
Remember loved ones at local celebrations across Lincolnshire
Nine celebrations will be held across Lincolnshire throughout November and December, to remember loved ones at a difficult time of year.
St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice is inviting the local community to remember a loved one at Christmas at their annual Light up a Life celebrations. These unique celebrations are a special time for families and friends to join together in remembering the people that they love in a reflective environment. 
Each event will feature touching readings, music and a time for quiet reflection; candles will also be lit in remembrance.
Each Light up a Life celebration will last approximately 1 – 1.5 hours. They are free to attend and open to everyone, regardless of faith. There is no need to book in advance for the celebrations, but the Hospice is asking people to register their attendance for the Torchlight Procession at www.stbarnabashospice.co.uk/torchlight-19.
- Lincoln Celebration and Torchlight Procession – Tuesday 26th Celebration begins at 6pm at Our Lady of Lincoln Church, Laughton Way, Lincoln, LN2 2HE. Torchlight Procession meets at 7pm at Claytons Sports Ground.
- Boston Celebration – Sunday 1st December, 2pm, Salvation Army, 59-61 High Street, Boston, PE21 8ST.
- Gainsborough Celebration – Tuesday 3rd December, 6.30pm, United Reformed Church, Church Street, Gainsborough, DN21 2JR.
- Skegness Celebration – Sunday 8th December, 2.30pm, St Paul’s Baptist Church, 19 Beresford Avenue, Skegness, PE25 3JD.
- Sleaford Celebration – Sunday 8th December, 3pm, Sleaford Methodist Church, Church Lane, Sleaford, NG34 7DF.
- Louth Celebration – Sunday 8th December, 3pm, Louth Methodist Church, Nicholl Hill, Louth, LN11 9NQ.
- Grantham Celebration – Tuesday 10th December, 6pm, St Wulframs Church, Church Street, Grantham, NG31 6RR.
- Sutton Celebration – Saturday 14th December, 2pm, St Andrews, Sutton Road, Hannah cum Hagnaby, LN13 9QL.
- Spalding Celebration – Sunday 15th December, 3pm, St John the Baptist Church, Hawthorn Bank, Spalding, PE11 1JQ.
The Lincoln event includes the iconic and moving Torchlight Procession, which involves thousands of local residents joining forces to walk through Lincoln’s iconic Bailgate, carrying flaming torches in memory of loved ones. Due to the works currently taking place at Lincoln Cathedral, the Lincoln Tree of Life will stand outside the Lincoln Hotel for one year only.
Louise Cotton, organiser of the Torchlight Procession, said:
“On behalf of St Barnabas, we’d like to say a huge thank you to the Lincoln Hotel for kindly hosting our Tree of Life this year. Because of this generosity, the Procession route will remain largely unchanged and supporters will still have a lovely view of the Cathedral in the background of the tree.”
If you would like to dedicate a light in memory of a loved one at Christmas, or for more information about the Light up a Life celebrations, please go to www.stbarnabashospice.co.uk/LUAL
Hospice fundraiser urges supporters to join him in trekking Mount Toubkal for St Barnabas
Mike Pastor, St Barnabas Hospice Challenge Fundraiser, will be trekking Mount Toubkal, Morocco on 7th – 11th October 2020 and he is rallying St Barnabas supporters to join him for this adventure.
Mount Toubkal is North Africa’s highest mountain at 4,167m tall and is situated in the heart of Toubkal National Park just south of Marrakech.
The trip consists of three days trekking and allows plenty of time to take in the unique culture of Morocco. The ascent up Mount Toubkal is a great introduction to mountaineering adventure and it is an excellent experience for those with good health and fitness.
As you ascend, you’ll hike through juniper forests and alpine meadows. The views from the summit are spectacular; you will experience stunning 360-degree panoramic views that extend as far as the Sahara Desert.
Mike said:
“The Toubkal Trek promises to be a once in a lifetime challenge. We will experience the most beautiful views on our ascent to the summit, and we can really immerse ourselves into the culture with village visits and hearty, locally-cooked meals. Come and join the team, let’s climb a mountain together!”
If you would like to join Mike in taking part in the Toubkal Trek, you might be surprised at the low registration fees.
Mike said:
“It will only cost you £99 to register for the Toubkal Trek, we will cover the rest: flights, camping, food, guides and any support that you will need. All we ask is that you raise a minimum of £1,650 for the Hospice.
“With a whole year to fundraise, you can easily smash this target and have a lot of fun with it in the process. I will be there every step of the way to support you with fundraising materials, ideas, advice and training.”
“Thanks to the courage and kindness of people like you, we are able to continue to provide dignified and compassionate end-of-life care to those who need it in Lincolnshire. By taking part in a challenge like this you are making memories and making a difference to the hospice care St Barnabas can provide.”
If you would like to register for the Toubkal Trek, you can sign up on our website here or alternatively, contact Mike Pastor at mike.pastor@stbarnabashospice.co.uk or 01522 540 300.
Golf tournament in memory of lifelong Lincoln City fan
The Tim Smith Memorial Golf and Community Day has been organised in memory of a much-loved Lincoln City FC fan.
Many of you will remember Tim Smith, a St Barnabas Hospice patient who was able to meet staff and players at Lincoln City Football Club, and lead the team out to a memorable victory, before he sadly died of pancreatic cancer in April 2019.
Although Tim was very poorly, he managed to live long enough to see Lincoln City get promoted to League One, before dying a few days later. Before he died, Tim’s friends asked him if there was anything they could do to help. He simply asked that his friends raise some money for St Barnabas Hospice so that others might have the same great care that he received.
Tim’s friends, along with Lincolnshire Community Health Services, have ensured that Tim’s final wish comes true. They have arranged for a Memorial Golf and Community Day to take place on Friday 27th September at Lincoln Golf Club in Torksey. It is hoped that the event will raise some much-needed money for St Barnabas Hospice, so they can continue providing their free services to people like Tim across Lincolnshire.
The Golf Tournament is for four-person teams of mixed gender, with maximum allowable handicaps of 28 for males and 36 for females. It is in AM-AM Stableford tournament format with the best two cards to count per team. There is a prize for the longest drive and commemorative trophies for teams up to third place. It costs £45 per player (£180 per team), which includes a round of golf, bacon rolls and coffee, plus a post-match meal.
Along with the Golf Tournament, there will be a guest appearance from the amazing Mr Magic. It promises to be great day!
For those who are unable to attend and support the event, a JustGiving page has been set up to receive donations in support of St Barnabas Hospice. You can donate at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/thetimsmithmemorialgolfandcommunityday.
If you would like more information about the Golf and Community Day, or to book a team, please visit www.weareimps-wecare.net.
Hospice Make a Will Month results in at least 38 new legacy donors
The successful St Barnabas Hospice Make a Will Month has resulted in a large amount of additional people leaving gifts in their Will for the Hospice.
Throughout May this year, St Barnabas Hospice teamed up with local Solicitor firms to give Lincolnshire residents the chance to make or amend their Will free of charge. In return, they asked people to consider leaving a gift to the Hospice in their Will.
This year, 202 people took part in the campaign, which is an incredible amount compared to 139 people in 2018 and 34 people in 2017. Of those 202 people, 38 chose to let us know they had left a gift in their Will for the Hospice, with two people leaving their full estate. We are hopeful that more have also done the same. These gifts will help St Barnabas care for more people across Lincolnshire living with a life-limiting or terminal illness, and their families and carers, long into the future.
The Solicitors which were involved in this campaign are Sills & Betteridge, Bridge McFarland and JMP Solicitors. The Hospice would like to say a huge thank you to these companies for helping to hold such a successful Make A Will Month.
James Proctor, Partner and Head of Wills, Trusts and Probate for the Skegness Branch of Sills & Betteridge, said:
“Sills & Betteridge are delighted to have been involved for another year in what has yet again been a very successful campaign. We are proud of our close relationship with St Barnabas and look forward to providing our full support in future campaigns.
“Many charities rely heavily on the generosity of those who leave gifts in Wills. Joint ventures such as the St Barnabas Make a Will Month allow us to reach out to local people. We assist them in writing a Will or updating an existing one whilst at the same time, encouraging them to consider offering financial support to the charity. By conceding some of our fees, our firm can encourage further giving and increase that much needed support.”
Sam Waterer, Individual Giving Fundraiser at St Barnabas Hospice, said:
“I’d like to personally thank the Solicitors who got involved with this year’s Make a Will Month. Their support has been incredible, and we wouldn’t have been able to achieve our levels of success without them.
“We’re now on the hunt for more Solicitor firms to join us in making next year’s Make a Will Month campaign an even bigger success! Whether your firm is small or large, all offers of help will be gratefully accepted, so that we can provide the community with the best access possible to appointments.”
To offer your support or have an informal discussion with Sam about the Make a Will Month campaign, please email sam.waterer@stbarnabashospice.co.uk or call 01522 540 300.