Category: Fundraising
Dog walkers encouraged at this year’s Moonlight Walk Stamford
St Barnabas Hospice is welcoming dog walkers to this year’s Moonlight Walk Stamford in September.
Taking place on Saturday 14th September, the second Moonlight Walk Stamford hosted by St Barnabas Hospice is welcoming both humans and dogs to walk in memory of loved ones. The Moonlight Walk Stamford will begin at Borderville Sports Centre, with doors opening to the public at 7.30pm.
Reggie the Cockerpoo took part in the Moonlight Walk Lincoln earlier this year with his owner, Debbie, who he really helped through a difficult time. Debbie’s husband, Richard Braunton, was diagnosed with stage four Frontal Lobe Glioblastoma in January 2017 and sadly died in March 2018, age 49. Debbie said:
“We initially thought St Barnabas was just somewhere you go to die. Little did we know what amazing support, care and activities they offer to both patients and their families and carers.
“Whilst he was able, Rich went to do Tai Chi at the Lincoln Day Therapy Centre. Although sometimes he struggled, we still managed to get him there just to chat to someone outside of family and friends. We also had lunches there with family which was lovely.
“As Rich became more poorly, he was admitted for respite care to the Hospice, where he was so well looked after.”
Debbie also received a lot of free support from St Barnabas, both during and after Richard’s illness. Debbie said:
“I was given a course of reflexology as a way to relax. This was lovely and a great way to unwind for an hour to myself.
“After Rich died, I decided, in the end, to go to the counselling group which was really beneficial. Overall, St Barnabas staff and volunteers were truly supportive for me and our family at such a difficult time.”
“St Barnabas offers such varied support and is a sanctuary to go to talk and show emotions which I didn’t want to show my family as I felt I had to be strong for them.
“Although they have volunteers, they are a charity and as such, need money to continue to offer support to other families in similar circumstances to my own.
“In life, we never know what lies ahead of us and we never think that tragedy could strike so early. To know that St Barnabas is there to be our backbone in these circumstances is a massive thing and I would urge everyone to support the Hospice. I never imagined I would be in this position.”
Louise Cotton, Events Fundraiser for St Barnabas Hospice, said:
“Debbie’s story has moved us all at St Barnabas and it’s lovely to know that Reggie was able to help her through such a difficult time. We look forward to meeting lots of dogs like Reggie at this year’s Moonlight Walk Stamford, but there are a couple of rules.
“Please make sure dogs are kept on non-retractable leads, they must be friendly and sociable with people and with other dogs.”
It’s not too late to sign up to this year’s Moonlight Walk Stamford. People aged 11+ can sign up at www.stbarnabashospice.co.uk/moonlight-walk-stamford-2019. If you sign up before Sunday 21st July, you will also be able to take advantage of the early bird prices!
Hundreds of St Barnabas supporters walk through the night to remember loved ones
Saturday 8th June 2019 marked the 11th St Barnabas Hospice Moonlight Walk in Lincoln. The event saw over 250 people walk 10K through Lincoln’s historical Bailgate, past the Castle walls, down to Sincil Bank and back to raise vital funds for St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice.
Louise Cotton, Events Fundraiser and Event Lead, said:
“We are delighted to announce that around £13,000 has been pledged by our incredible supporters this weekend.
“The Moonlight Walk is a unique event, which is why after eleven years we are still seeing such success. The walk gives our fundraisers a chance to meet likeminded people, talk about their loved ones and take precious time to remember them.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank our supporters who showed great energy and gusto walking through Lincoln dressed in pink and 70’s themed attire to support our cause. We saw all ages, walks of life and even a few four-legged friends on route.
“I must thank our event sponsor and location for the evening BG Conference & Events. Their team worked with us leading up to the event and were behind us all the way, until 2am! We could not recommend the venue highly enough.”
A pink themed ‘Memories under the Moonlight’ video booth gave walkers an opportunity to talk about who they were dedicating their walk to.
Rose Gray, St Barnabas Hospice Education Facilitator, said:
“Dad would have been very proud of me taking part in the Moonlight Walk. I took part to raise awareness to others about the services that St Barnabas has to offer to both patients and their families.
“When Dad was ill, we were unaware of St Barnabas’s services. If we had known what St Barnabas could have done to ease the journey along, this would have given us all the opportunity to make more informed choices.”
St Barnabas has a fundraising target of over £5.5 million each year. This provides more than 10,500 patients and families with compassionate, end-of-life care including Hospice at Home, well-being care and bereavement groups. Events such as Moonlight Walk encourage people of all ages and abilities to celebrate life and raise vital funds for the county’s largest Hospice facility.
St Barnabas leads the way in mass participation events in Hospice fundraising. The St Barnabas Colour Dash and new for 2019 Forget Me Not appeal has been celebrated nationally for its success as like-minded organisations look for inspiration and guidance.
If you would like to take part in a fundraising event or learn more about St Barnabas Hospice Lincolnshire care, visit www.stbarnabashospice.co.uk
“We’re walking in memory of Nana to say thank you to the thoughtful nurses at St Barnabas.”
Sisters, Sarah McCaffrey (36) and Gemma Theobald (34), are taking part in the St Barnabas Hospice Moonlight Walk this Saturday in memory of their Nana, Sheila Dickenson.
Two sisters from Lincoln, Sarah and Gemma, are walking the 10k Moonlight Walk on Saturday 8th June to raise money for St Barnabas Hospice. The Hospice cared for their Nana, Sheila, for seven days in February 2014.
Although her stay with St Barnabas was a short one, Sarah, who works for Lincolnshire Police, describes how the care her Nana received could not have been better:
“We were allowed to make Nana’s room lovely for her and when she started her decline, the hospice staff were so knowledgeable in telling us what was happening. Nana started to become unresponsive due to her lack of oxygen but the nurses were able to tell us that she could still hear us and we should just talk to her as normal.
“As I left one day I gave her a kiss on the head and she made a noise and gave a little smile. I’ll never forget that. The nurses also let my sister go to sleep in her room on nights when she couldn’t settle for bedtime.”
Sheila sadly died on 7th February 2014 from heart failure, after being diagnosed on 22nd January 2014. She had end-of-life care at the St Barnabas Inpatient Unit in Lincoln. Sarah said:
“I’m walking in memory of Nana who, before she retired, was a nurse at St George’s Hospital in Lincoln. She looked after so many people throughout her life so it was comforting to know that when she was in her final days there were people to look after her personally. Staying at home wasn’t an option as my Grandpa wasn’t well enough to be able to give her what she needed.
“My nana was such a helpful person; she would do anything for anyone if she could. Once she retired she volunteered as a visitor to the elderly who lived alone so they had a friendly face and a chat once a week.”
The care and support that St Barnabas provided to both Sheila and her family inspired Sarah’s sister, Gemma, to volunteer for the Hospice. This volunteering work made Gemma realise that she wanted to change her career path from retail to care. She now does house calls to the elderly, just like her Nana. Sarah said:
“A memory that stands out is the night Nana died when the St Barnabas nurses lit a candle for her and sat with us. Although two patients died that night, the nurses made sure both families had separate candles and enough support to get us through the difficult time.”
St Barnabas will be setting up a ‘Memories in the Moonlight’ tent on Saturday evening where supporters can sit and record video messages about the special people they are walking in memory of. The Hospice is inviting participants to share their memories, just like Sarah and Gemma have.
It’s not too late to sign up to this year’s Moonlight Walk. Come to Bishop Grosseteste University on Saturday 8th June for 8pm and you can sign up on the night for only £20! The Hospice welcomes males, females and even dogs. All they ask is that everyone participating is aged 11 or older.
Hospice requires urgent plant donations for popular Cream Tea & Plant Sales
St Barnabas Hospice is asking local businesses to donate plants for their annual Cream Tea & Plant Sales in Lincoln and Gainsborough.
Once again, St Barnabas Hospice will be hosting their popular Cream Tea & Plant Sales. The Lincoln event will be on Saturday 1st June, from 1.30-4pm at their Lincoln Day Therapy Centre, Hawthorn Road, LN2 4QX. Gainsborough’s Plant Sale will be on Sunday 2nd June, from 1.30-4pm at the Gainsborough Day Therapy Centre, George Henderson Lodge, Front Street, Morton, DN21 3AD.
Throughout the two afternoons the Day Therapy Centres will be open to all, where there will be an opportunity for members of the public to purchase a wide selection of plants. After its popularity last year, the Hospice will also be serving homemade cream tea to enjoy in their beautiful gardens.
Caroline Swindin, Corporate & Community Lead for St Barnabas Hospice, said:
“Our annual Plant Sales are always extremely popular and we’re looking forward to welcoming members of the public back to Lincoln and Gainsborough this year. Hopefully the weather stays nice for us.”
St Barnabas would appreciate any plant donations for these events, so please get in contact if you would like to help. Caroline said:
“The Plant Sales wouldn’t be possible without the generosity of local people and garden centres donating plants to support the event. We are appealing to local businesses, garden centres and plant nurseries to donate plants for us to sell on the day. Please get in touch if this is something which you are able to do.
For further information or to make a donation please contact Caroline Swindin on 07435 970 309 or email caroline.swindin@stbarnabashospice.co.uk.
St Barnabas flagship event, the Inflatable Colour Dash, raises over £100,000
On Saturday 11th May 2019, the fifth St Barnabas Hospice Colour Dash saw 2,500 people of all ages and abilities tackle 5km of paint stations and inflatable obstacles.
Participants were asked to raise sponsorship for the Hospice as part of the sign-up process. The runners surpassed all expectations and raised in excess of £100,000, with sponsorship still to be collected.
St Barnabas Hospice supports 10,500 people each year with end-of-life care, including Hospice at Home, wellbeing care and pre-bereavement and bereavement support. The Hospice has a fundraising target of over £5.5 million each year, with mass participation events bringing in a vital proportion of funds.
The event, sponsored by Western Power Distribution, was organised by Event Fundraiser, Melissa Gaffney.
Melissa explains;
I want to say thank you to everyone who has helped us make the fifth Colour Dash one to remember. Planning the Colour Dash is a whole team effort including a mixture of external organisations and our event volunteer group to make sure every runner and spectator is safe, happy and having a great time.
We all understand how important the fundraising events are to the Hospice, which is an added pressure – but gives you focus to work hard and achieve more. I am so please the total raised has hit over £100,000. This means many more people in Lincolnshire will access free, compassionate end of life care from our dedicated clinical team.
We have some great ideas of how to take the Colour Dash, at the Lincolnshire Showground to the next level and have already secured next year’s date. We look forward to seeing you on the start line!
Lauren Richardson, Sales Manager at the Lincolnshire Showground continues;
We are thrilled to see the Colour Dash continue to succeed for St Barnabas. We understand more than most how much time and effort goes into planning mass participation events, so it’s great to see the event go from strength to strength, especially when the money raised goes to such a good cause, close to so many people’s hearts.
St Barnabas Hospice has confirmed the date for the Colour Dash 2020 to be Saturday 16th May. If you would like to register your interest for this event, please email fundraising@stbarnabashospice.co.uk
Homelet praise St Barnabas fundraisers for their dedication and support
Lincoln based Homelet is one of the leading sources of support for the UK’s private rented sector. With exemplary work with local charities Homelet decided to fundraise for St Barnabas Hospice who supports 10,500 people each year with free kind and compassionate care.
“We’ve worked closely with St Barnabas since January 2018, when our team chose St Barnabas as one of their nominated charities. With over 300 members of our team based in Lincoln, we were very keen to support a local organisation.
We’ve been supported from the outset by the dedicated and enthusiastic Caroline, who is the Corporate & Community Lead at St Barnabas.”
Most people know what St Barnabas do and know someone who has been supported by the fantastic work they do; this means our great team are so much more invested in the fundraising.
All events and initiatives are always recognised by Caroline, we know St Barnabas are grateful for every £1 we raise for them. They’re relentless in their commitment and their team even participate in some of our events. This only makes fundraising more rewarding for everyone and we know that our colleagues love actively participating in activity that gives something back to such a fantastic local charity.
We’ll continue to raise money for St Barnabas in 2019 and still have local fundraising events but this year, we have even thrown ourselves behind all the challenges supported by them. We’re happy to pay the entry fees for our employees to all or any of the challenges. It’s made so easy to do, as there is a dedicated St Barnabas employee, Mike Pastor supporting the organisation of these challenge events.
Mike is hugely popular with our employees, he’s always there cheering everyone along with his Go Pro, recording their efforts and sending brilliant images for us to use to recognise the huge efforts of our participating team members.
We look forward to continuing our partnership with St Barnabas, to support the crucial work they carry out for our community.”
St Barnabas Hospice has a fundraising target of over £5.5 million each year and welcome support no matter how big or small. The helpful and dedicated fundraisers that will support you with a bespoke fundraising plan which will unite your team, raise your local profile and offer endless opportunities of learning for your employees.
Lincs FM presenter set to run Colour Dash after care his ex-partner is receiving
John Marshall; Lincs FM presenter, along with his daughter Eleanor will be running the Inflatable Colour Dash, as John and his family are experiencing the St Barnabas Hospice care first hand.
John has been supporting Angela, his ex-partner and Eleanor’s mother with her cancer diagnosis since 2016. Angela is currently in the care of St Barnabas Hospice.
John explains;
“Angela is many things; 48, my ex-girlfriend, an amazing mother to our daughter Eleanor, my best friend and terminally ill.
In 2016 Angela underwent surgery and follow up treatment following a breast cancer diagnosis, a year or so later she needed further surgery to remove all the lymph nodes under her left arm as well as part of her chest muscle, where it had also spread. Fast forward to 2019 and Angela is diagnosed with stage four secondary cancer in her lungs and bones, her treatment is now palliative. Angela has a constantly swollen and painful left arm, a condition known as lymphedema, often struggles to walk or breathe properly. For the last few years both she and Eleanor have been living with me as we attempt to prepare for the future both myself and Eleanor will inevitably face.
Recently Angela was given a place at St Barnabas Hospice in Lincoln where she remained for over three weeks; the goal was to achieve some degree of pain management and to hopefully build her up a little. I’ve mentioned St Barnabas events for many years on the radio but until seeing close up what they do I have been very green to it all, I suspect this is true for many of you reading this text. The hospice isn’t just a place that people go to die, Angela isn’t at that point yet, she’s not good, she may not experience many ups, and may have plenty of downs on the road ahead, but I cannot praise the Hospice enough for all they’ve done for her, it truly is a place of immense support and comfort.
Until now only my closest friends have known of Angela’s situation but in the hope of raising awareness and some much needed funds for the Hospice it feels like the right time to change that.
I’ve mentioned St Barnabas events for many years on Lincs FM but until my recent spell seeing exactly what they do up close I really didn’t appreciate the amazing service being provided. I’ll be running the Colour Dash at the Lincolnshire Showground on May 11th with my 13 year old daughter Eleanor. I hope you will support us.
Thank you,
John xxx
Come and join us and run shoulder to shoulder in support of this amazing local charity, places are limited so sign up today! Visit www.stbarnabashospice.co.uk/ICD19
Local people encourage to make their Will free of charge this May in support of St Barnabas Hospice
Local people are being encouraged to make or amend their Will free of charge this May, and in return, are asked to support their local Hospice
During May this year, St Barnabas Hospice have partnered with local Solicitor firms to give Lincolnshire residents the chance to make or amend their Will free of charge. In return, they are asking for a gift in their Will or donation to St Barnabas.
The Solicitors which are involved in this campaign are: Sills & Betteridge Solicitors, Bridge McFarland Solicitors and JMP Solicitors.
Sam Waterer, Individual Giving Fundraiser at St Barnabas Hospice, said:
“Many people don’t consider a Will early on in life, but it’s amazing what assets people realise they have when they write them down. If you’re married, have kids or own a business or home and don’t have a Will, now is definitely the right time to make one. It is also good to review your current Will every five years, as a lot can change in a short space of time.
“We have had some amazing amounts of money left for our Hospice in people’s Will, as well as gifts ranging from houses to parrots and rottweilers!”
When making a Will you can appoint who you want to administer your estate and sort out arrangements as you wish them to be done. What better time to do it than during Make a Will Month?
St Barnabas is lucky to receive many gifts in Wills from their supporters. These gifts help St Barnabas care for more people across Lincolnshire living with a life-limiting or terminal illness, and their families and carers.
As well as supporting the future of your local Hospice, Make a Will Month also encourages people to make plans, and to think about the end of their life.
Sam said:
“Although the end of your life can be difficult to think about, it can be even more difficult for your friends and family if nothing is in place when it comes around.
“Make a Will Month helps people to create their Legacy and decide what happens to the people and things they care about the most after they are gone.”
There is no obligation to leave a gift in your Will for St Barnabas as part of Make a Will Month. However, once you have provided for your loved ones, any gift you are able to leave will help to ensure that the Hospice can continue their care and support in the local community into the future.
For more information on Make a Will Month or to receive your free pack, visit www.stbarnabashospice.co.uk/MAWM. Alternatively, you can contact Sam Waterer at sam.waterer@stbarnabashospice.co.uk or call 01522 540 300.
Remember Me Always
Look back to those times
memories you have got,
Minutes ago, hours or ages past
please forget me not.
Capture moments in your thoughts
in life there is a lot,
A sound, a smell, a picture,
that Forget Me Not.
A flower to remind you
to take you to that spot,
so vivid in my mind
thank you forget me not.
So for all those we have lost
close or on some unforgotten plot,
I see and know the bloom
will forget me not.
John Welsh
John_welsh5050@hotmail.com
“If I could have one more day with Dad, I’d hold him once more and tell him just how much I love him”
Jamie Aspland, Branch Manager at Pygott & Crone in Sleaford, has been part of a phenomenal fundraising attempt in support of St Barnabas Hospice. To date, the company has raised over £7,000 for the Hospice and this total is still increasing.
Sadly, on 27th November 2016 Jamie’s dad, Nigel, died age 63 after being diagnosed around six months earlier with terminal cancer. Nigel spent many weeks being cared for by our Hospice at Home team before choosing to spend his last 29 days in our Hospice in the Hospital at Grantham.
Jamie was lucky to work for such a supportive company who allowed him the time to look after his dad when he was reaching the end of his life. Jamie said:
“Before we were referred to St Barnabas, we had a family rota to make sure someone was looking after Dad at all times. This didn’t go to plan when Dad tried to go to the toilet on his own one night as he didn’t want to wake me after a busy day at work. Unfortunately he fell and it was a wake-up call that we just couldn’t cope on our own without extra support.
“From then on, St Barnabas took over Dad’s care and it felt like a weight had lifted. I had promised myself I would look after Dad until the end but the St Barnabas nurses were able to show me that it would be better for Dad if we all worked together. They were 100% right.”
“I can hand-on-heart say that without St Barnabas I’m not sure how I would have got through the last months of Dad’s life. The room which Dad was in was amazing, the support and care given to him was second to none and nothing was ever too much. The nurses supported me when I needed supporting and left me when I needed time alone. They just seemed to know what to do at all the right times. When end-of-life came, they knew all the right things to do to keep us calm and help us think about the next steps.
“One memory that sticks in my mind is about another family who were going through the same thing as us. The lady who was terminally ill wanted to be alive for Christmas but her family and St Barnabas nurses were aware that this would not be possible. The nurses arranged for her to have her own Christmas Day on 25th November. They came in wearing Christmas jumpers, brought presents and enjoyed all the fun and laughter of a normal Christmas with the family. What an amazing memory to leave that family with.”
Jamie has pledged to raise enough money for St Barnabas to cover every penny’s worth of care and support that was given to himself and his family. Jamie said:
“If I could have one more day with Dad, I’d want thank him for the legacy he has set up for our family and let him see his grandson, Jai, playing football. I’d want to hold him once more and tell him just how much I love him. There are always times when I miss his presence more as it’s hard knowing I can’t run decisions past him anymore and get his advice.”
St Barnabas Hospice provides free care to people across Lincolnshire living with a life-limiting or terminal illness and their families and carers. To find out more about the different ways we can help, visit www.stbarnabashospice.co.uk
