Fundraising Archives - Page 10 of 44

‘They Would Both Be Proud’ – Ebonie Runs St Barnabas Colour Dash In Memory of Nana

Ebonie Barker from Skegness, is taking part in the Colour Dash event, being held at the Lincolnshire Showground on Saturday 14th May to thank the Hospice for caring for her Nana in 2018.

Ebonie says: “Due to the incredible work they provide day in and day out for their patients, I wanted to run the Colour Dash this year for St Barnabas. The Hospice took such wonderful care of my lovely Nana, Grace Barker, and I always feel honoured to take part in these events to try and give something back.

“I am also taking part in the Colour Dash to also remember my beautiful Grandad, Brian Holdsworth. I know they would both be proud to see me taking part in such fantastic events to help raise money for people who need it the most.”

The Colour Dash event is back for a sixth year and promises to be bigger and better than ever before. This year, St Barnabas Hospice celebrates its 40th birthday. To honour the occasion, the Hospice has brought back the popular event with more paint powder than ever before and a goal of raising £150,000 for patient care.

Ebonie is hoping to raise more than £400 in total, with an initial target of £200 via her JustGiving page.

Ebonie added: “I always like taking part in fundraising, especially when it’s such a good cause. My family supports the Hospice all year round; we play the lottery and take part in the raffles too. We also attend the Torchlight Procession every year to remember our loved ones. When we stand outside the Hospice and the band plays ‘Amazing Grace’ it is so touching. ”

To find out more about the Colour Dash or to register to take part, visit: https://stbarnabashospice.co.uk/colourdash/

“The entire experience was one of peace. The beautiful environment created by the rooms overlooking the garden, the Cathedral chiming in the background and the warm summer sun were all blessings.”

Sheena Dayman took part in the St Barnabas Hospice Colour Dash to raise money for the Hospice who had cared for her beloved son, Simon.

In her own words, Sheena writes about her experience, her loss and how St Barnabas supported her through such difficult times.

Sheena said “Joy has always been part of my life, but in November 2016 when my son, Simon aged 34, was diagnosed with a terminal illness, it took on a whole new meaning. It was very sudden and a shock to discover that the original melanoma had spread extensively including to his brain. It could be weeks or months depending on treatment before he died.

“I decided I would choose joy, and Simon began his own campaign called ‘Choose Your Day’. He encouraged people every day, via Facebook, to consider what they had control over.

“I remember one day, whilst collecting his prescription for pain relieving injections, I walked around the Bailgate in Lincoln, asking in various shops for ‘joy,’ all the time fighting back my tears. In one amazing shop was a ‘joy’ sign with tasteful white light bulbs. This took pride of place in Simon’s home, and is now in Australia with his wife Katie and son Charlie.

“Simon’s treatment went well, and his original three months turned into almost eight months, giving us some time before Simon was admitted to St Barnabas.

“St Barnabas became our home for just over a week; nothing was a problem and I was able to move into the flat upstairs, with Katie sleeping in a bed next to Simon. I would come down early morning and Katie would go home to be in time for Charlie waking up, returning after the school run. My husband and other son joined us each day, ordering lunch on their way in. The food was amazingly served with such love and care.

“The care was exceptional in every way. The staff, realising that I was a woman of strong faith, weren’t too surprised when I said, “Do you know why I know Jesus is here? I can see his compassion in the gentle caring way you care for my son and us.”

“The day came when Charlie had to say goodbye, and St Barnabas managed this perfectly in so many ways, adjusting Simon’s drugs so he was awake enough, wheeling his bed out into the garden, enabling Charlie to play while seeing and talking to his dad.

“The entire experience for each family member, including Simon, was one of peace. The beautiful environment created by the rooms overlooking the garden, the Cathedral chiming in the background and the warm summer sun were all blessings. As Simon drifted away, the peace filled every inch of the place. We shall be eternally grateful to all that made it happen that way.

“When Katie advised me in May 2018 that she had signed up for the Colour Dash with Charlie, I joined without hesitation. It had been a sudden decision for all of us, but in a few weeks we raised around £700. We just wanted to give something back in appreciation.

“We embraced the fun side and, although it was very emotional, we made it round the 5k. The back of our t-shirts said, ‘Choose Your Day’, and, ‘Husband, Son and Dad’. Charlie’s little legs struggled early on, but the bouncy castles ahead were a great motivator. We were explaining to him what St Barnabas was all about and he said, “My daddy died in there.” I can still remember the heartbreak that caused. However, after reminding Charlie of the great way his daddy was cared for, the joy returned. I said, “Today we are helping to raise money to make sure that lots of other people are also well cared for.”

This year’s Colour Dash takes place on Saturday 14^th May, with the Hospice asking supporters to take part and collectively raise £150,000 for local hospice care. The year is extra special, as St Barnabas is also celebrating their 40^th anniversary of providing care to the people of Lincolnshire.

Sheena added, “This year is also very special for me because, as well as it being St Barnabas Hospice’s 40^th birthday, it is also Simon’s 40^th birthday.”

To take part in the Colour Dash, visit www.stbarnabashospice.co.uk/colourdash

UPS Foundation gifted the Hospice a fantastic $10,000 grant to support people across Lincolnshire living with life-limiting and terminal illnesses

At St Barnabas Hospice, it costs around £12 million each year to keep our services running, supporting people across Lincolnshire living with life-limiting and terminal illnesses. We are lucky that some wonderful trusts and funders have supported our work over the years with a variety of grants.

Recently, the UPS Foundation gifted the Hospice a fantastic $10,000 grant after being nominated by their Transport Planner, Tom Parker. Tom nominated the Hospice after we cared for his grandad in 2020/21.

“Founded in 1951, The UPS Foundation leads UPS’s global citizenship efforts and philanthropy. We believe the best way to give back is to draw upon our collective strengths, linking philanthropic dollars with our logistics expertise, transportation assets, and the skills and passion of our people to create a shared value for our communities and people around the world.”

Tom said, “My Grandad Ken was a typical Yorkshire man; born and raised in Sheffield, opinionated, honest, likeable and respectable. He served as a police constable for 25 years, before retiring with an exemplary service award and moving to Skegness with his wife to enjoy the slower pace of life the seaside had to offer, and to be near to their daughter Debbie (my Mum) and the family.

“When Lyn, his wife of 55 years, was diagnosed with vascular dementia, Grandad looked after her at home for eight years before she moved into a care home. He had also struggled with COPD for a number of years before being diagnosed with lung cancer in January 2020.

“The world went into lockdown not long after that, so all his plans to enjoy the time he had left were put on hold. Throughout the year, he enjoyed the simpler things in life like walks along the seafront, feeding the ducks in the park and going out for lunch with family. When his local pub reopened, he was very grateful to meet up with friends for an hour each week.

“St Barnabas visited Ken throughout the year as his condition deteriorated. He became very unwell over Christmas 2020, but made sure that he soldiered on long enough to ensure that his close family could all say their goodbyes. He died peacefully at home in the arms of his daughter and granddaughter Lucy on 5^th January 2021, age 76.

“The care St Barnabas provided was fantastic. They managed his symptoms with a syringe driver, offered psychological support to both my Grandad and the family and really helped him during a time when he was very scared of what the future had in store.

“I’m so glad that my nomination for St Barnabas to receive this money was accepted, as they have been affected financially by the pandemic and I want to help ensure that the vital work they do continues long into the future, for families in a similar situation”

If your company offer similar grants to charities, please speak to Julia Bowness by emailing here on julia.bowness@stbarnabashospice.co.uk or 07423122504, who will be happy to help your company support our fantastic charity.

“Sam would say “love you Mum, in my heart” to me hundreds of times a day before he died, and that’s why the Forever in our Hearts appeal really spoke to me.”

Christine Newby has dedicated an ironwork heart in memory of her treasured son, Sam, who had a wonderful and fun-filled life before he sadly died in December 2021 from pancreatic cancer. She has chosen to share his story in the hope that it will encourage others to remember loved ones in such a beautiful way.

Christine said, “Sam was born in Hong Kong in 1978 with Down’s Syndrome. After falling in love with him at the Home of Loving Faithfulness, my husband and I had the privilege of adopting him, moving back to the UK together four years later.

“When he was born, Sam had duodenal atresia which could have been fatal, but miraculously the doctors were able to keep him alive. The scar from his operation went from hip to hip and he would always refer to it as his tummy zip, pretending to undo it when he had eaten too much!

“My husband and I travelled a lot with work, so Sam had homes in Hong Kong, UK, Sultanate of Oman and Saudi Arabia, He also visited his sister in Australia on many occasions and was a proud uncle and great uncle.

“Sam had an enormous sense of humour and just loved to make you laugh with and at him. He told many jokes, but usually the punch line came at the beginning! Once he learned to speak there was no stopping him; as soon as he opened his eyes in the morning, he also opened his mouth.

“Sam would say “love you Mum, in my heart” to me hundreds of times a day before he died, and that’s why the Forever in our Hearts appeal really spoke to me. We intend to place our heart beside his grave in the churchyard.

“We still like to talk in the way that Sam would, and he had his own way of speaking that others sometimes couldn’t understand. We still say ‘bish bosh’ for dishwasher, ‘blips’ for slippers and ‘nuff nish bop’ for enough, finish, stop when Dad would tickle him.

“HimToo was a very important part of our family – a stuffed rhinoceros which Sam had from his third birthday. He had many repairs over the years – new paws, new horns, new tail – but he was always there beside Sam whatever he was doing. He got his name because Sam would always say “me bwing him too?” when we went anywhere.

“Sam was diagnosed with terminal cancer on December 7^th after spending just two days in hospital. The doctors had found secondaries in his liver, bile duct and lymph nodes, so he was in terrible pain. He went downhill so fast and was moved to St Barnabas Hospice in Lincoln just ten days later.

“He died in the early hours of 20^th December, which rocked our whole family. We are still feeling the shock even now.

“HimToo went with Sam to the Hospice and stayed with him right to the end. It seemed only right that HimToo joined Sam on his last adventure in the coffin, watching over him in his place of rest.

“All of the staff at St Barnabas were simply wonderful, asking if we needed anything and keeping an eye on all of us, not just Sam. The care they showed him was outstanding, and even though he arrived there on strong pain relief, the nurses still managed to get to know him a little.

“He passed so suddenly that we weren’t able to get to the Hospice in time, but we felt so grateful to the nurses when we got there because they had got him looking so comfortable, cuddling his favourite toy, HimToo. They had placed little dinosaurs around his head too – all so very caring. The nurses held onto us and it felt like they were our family in Australia who we were so dearly missing.”

Christine’s story highlights just how important the Forever in our Hearts appeal is for helping families remember loved ones in such a beautiful way. By donating for an ironwork heart, you will be directly helping the Hospice to support more patients just like Sam. Visit www.stbarnabashospice.co.uk/foreverhearts to order yours today.

St Barnabas Hospice supporter, Chris Owen, is taking on four challenges for the Hospice’s 40th birthday as a thank you to the charity who helped him meet his wife.

Chris, age 50 from Lincoln, first supported St Barnabas over eleven years ago when he took part in their Strictly Come Dancing competition to raise money. It was there where he met his wife, Joanne!

Chris said, “We were partnered together to learn the waltz and salsa over a ten-week period, and the rest is history. I have St Barnabas to thank for us meeting, which is why I have supported the charity and raised money ever since, and will continue to in the future.

“My wife has also worked as the Trust Board Secretary at St Barnabas Hospice for twelve years, so it is a cause very close to our hearts.

“This year, I will be taking on four challenges in honour of the Hospice’s 40^th birthday. I will be self-funding all four events, meaning every single penny I raise in sponsorship money will go directly to St Barnabas.

“The four challenges I am taking on are: the Fire Walk, the Slovenia Triple, the Giant Sportive, and the Snowdon Sunrise Trek.

“As a Chartered Health and Safety Consultant, the Fire Walk is wildly opposite to what I advise my clients, and not something I thought I would ever do! But I want to push myself out of my comfort zone and this, along with the other challenges, will certainly do that.

“I have always been active, but I think it is more important than ever for me to exercise and keep fit. I have a five-year-old son, and being an older dad, I want to keep as fit as possible so I can keep up with him in the coming years.

“For anyone new to exercise who wants to take on a challenge for St Barnabas, I recommend starting slow and not pushing yourself too fast, too early. Stick to an exercise regime that is doable, so you keep focussed, and find an exercise that you enjoy doing. For me, I love mountain biking and road biking.

“It is important to get support with any challenge you decide to do, especially if you take on multiple challenges like I am doing this year. St Barnabas has always been very supportive with any fundraising challenge I have decided to do, and I know they will be there for me this time around too.

“I’ve set up a JustGiving page, and anyone who wants to support me can donate at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/chris-owen30”

St Barnabas Hospice is encouraging supporters to take on their own challenge to raise money for their 40^th birthday. Visit www.stbarnabashospice.co.uk/40for40 to view a list of suggested challenges and register free of charge.

Hospice’s renowned spring appeal returns with an exciting twist

St Barnabas Hospice is known for its beautiful spring ironwork displays, raising an incredible £224,070 including Gift Aid from their dragonflies and forget me nots.

This year, St Barnabas Hospice is proud to announce the Forever in our Hearts appeal. For a suggested donation of £35.54, you can order a locally made, ironwork heart in memory of a loved one. Anyone can dedicate a heart, regardless of whether their loved ones received hospice care or not.

New for 2022, St Barnabas can offer personalisation of the hearts before they are placed in a spectacular display at the Dean’s Green, Lincoln Cathedral during April.

The display will run from Saturday 2^nd April to Monday 18^th April and will be open for members of the public to visit and pay respects during this period. There will also be the opportunity to view them during the evenings as part of a beautiful light display.

The hearts measure 18x95cm and will all be handmade locally by Stefanos at The Old Smithy. Artist, Dominic Parczuk, has created a fantastic oil painting impression of what the display will look like once all the hearts are in place.

St Barnabas supporter, Emma Gowland, has spoken out about the fantastic care her dad received from the Hospice and why she is dedicating a heart in his memory. She said, “My dad, Geoffrey, had such a cheeky personality; always joking and making us smile. He was diagnosed with cancer on 16th March 2016, and from then we only had a couple of weeks before he died and our world fell apart.

“I felt so lost at the time. I was 28, but it was as though I had reverted back to being a child, just trying to tell myself that it was all a bad dream.

“Our saving grace during this horrible period was St Barnabas Hospice. The dignity and care they showed my dad was like nothing I had ever imagined. From the moment our family walked in, we felt they were caring not only for dad, but for us too.

“My brother and I struggled to process our feelings alongside making sure Mum was ok, but the nurses took over and gave us stability when everything was falling apart. I don’t think people realise just how special the team at St Barnabas are.

“Everyone at St Barnabas has so much love to give to families and patients, which is what makes this heart display feel so special to me. The suggested donation for a heart is £35.54, this is the equivalent to one hour of specialist inpatient care, just like Dad received.

“My ironwork heart will stand proudly in the garden so that a part of Dad is here with me always.”

To dedicate a heart in memory of a loved one, just like Emma, visit www.stbarnabashospice.co.uk/foreverhearts.

A Trio of local music artists to play at The Lawn in Lincoln in support of St Barnabas

Wednesday, 23^rd February will see a trio of musical acts perform at the Blue Room at The Lawn in Lincoln, all in support of St Barnabas Hospice.

‘The Rye Sisters’, ‘Gary Rudd’ and headline act ‘Simcha’ will all perform together in what will be a night to remember. Each musical act is unique and full of culture, with genres ranging from American folk-country, rock music to klezmer music, which originated in the Jewish ghettos and villages in eastern Europe.

The three acts chose to raise money for St Barnabas because of the incredible work the clinical teams do to support patients across Lincolnshire and their families. Gary Rudd and Simcha’s cümbüs player Enzo Puzzovio both have a personal connection to the hospice as both their mothers received care and support from St Barnabas before they both sadly passed away. The two friends since decided they wanted to host this incredible trio of musicians, in loving memory of them. Thank you!

£10 from the sale of each ticket will go directly to St Barnabas. The money raised from the event will make a huge difference to people in Lincolnshire living with life-limiting or terminal illnesses.

If you are interested in attending what will be an incredible night of music, please go to: https://www.facebook.com/events/1428119544284672

“My ironwork heart will stand proudly in the garden so that a part of Dad is here with me always. When I’m outside looking after the flowers, I can have a little chat and feel that bit closer to him.”

Please note: This article references our ‘Forever in our Hearts’ Appeal, which took place i 2022. Unfortunately, it is no possible to purchase a heart is dedication to your loved one.

“My name is Emma, and I want to share some very special news about how St Barnabas is helping people like us remember loved ones this spring. When my dad died, my heart was completely broken. Now I can honour his memory with a personalised ironwork heart, and you can do the same for your loved ones.

“My dad, Geoffrey, had such a cheeky personality; always joking and making us smile. He was diagnosed with cancer on 16^th March 2016, and from then we only had a couple of weeks before he died and our world fell apart.

“I felt so lost at the time. I was 28, but it was as though I had reverted back to being a child, just trying to tell myself that it was all a bad dream.

“My brother and I struggled to process our feelings alongside making sure Mum was ok, but the nurses took over and gave us stability when everything was falling apart. Dad’s only wish was to be with Mum until the end, and St Barnabas allowed her to be there every second of every day. I don’t think people realise just how special the team at St Barnabas are.

“The incredible support we received as a family just wouldn’t have been possible, were it not for kind-hearted people like yourself who have donated to the Hospice in memory of loved ones. St Barnabas Hospice celebrates 40 years of caring for the people of Lincolnshire this year, and with your support, I know they will be able to support many more over the next 40 years.

“This spring, St Barnabas is asking supporters just like you and me, to honour loved ones by donating to the ‘Forever in our Hearts Appeal.’ If you were to give just £35.54, it could fund one hour of specialist inpatient care, just like Dad received. Your money could make such a huge difference to the people of Lincolnshire, allowing hospice care to continue long into the future.

“One memory which really stands out to me was the Lincoln 10k, which happened to take place the same day that Dad died. He always used to take part, so this time his friends ran in his honour. When the nurses found out, they came outside with me, held my hand and cheered the runners on as they ran past the Hospice. Everyone at St Barnabas has so much love to give to families and patients, which is what makes this heart display feel so special to me.

“If you donate for a heart this year, it will help St Barnabas to continue working at the heart of the community, making a real difference to people’s lives. I recently bought a new house, which was the first big milestone without Dad. My ironwork heart will stand proudly in the garden so that a part of Dad is here with me always. When I’m outside looking after the flowers, I can have a little chat and feel that bit closer to him.

“I am excited to announce that when you donate, your ironwork heart will appear in a beautiful display at Lincoln Cathedral, on the Dean’s Green, from Saturday 2^nd April to Monday 18^th April. Lincoln Cathedral was one of Dad’s favourite places to visit, and is where we now go every Christmas to light a candle in his memory.”

Thank you,

Emma Gowland

Couple brave the Fire Walk in memory of mums who met at St Barnabas, and later were both cared for there

Hannah Bartle and her partner, Martin, are taking on the St Barnabas Hospice Fire Walk in memory of their mums, who were both cared for by the Hospice.

The Fire Walk is one of the Hospice’s 40^th anniversary events, taking place on Saturday 19^th March at Bishop Grosseteste University in Lincoln. As the name suggests, Hannah and Martin will walk barefoot over red-hot wood embers which are around 800 degrees. There are no tricks and no special effects involved.

Hannah said, “I have done several fundraising events for St Barnabas in the past, including a skydive, but I love the idea of a Fire Walk as it is so different.

“My mum (Jean Bartle) spent 20 years volunteering at the St Barnabas Boston Day Therapy Centre, where ironically, she taught Martin’s mum how to paint before we had met each other! She was bubbly and fun, always finding ways to raise money for charity after her friend was diagnosed with breast cancer.

“Over the years, as well as dedicating so many hours to the Hospice, she also raised an incredible £20,000 for Breakthrough Breast Cancer (now named Breast Cancer Now). She loved dancing and going to the ballet, and she absolutely adored her grandchildren and the ladies at her over 50s exercise classes.

“When Mum was diagnosed with terminal cancer, we were absolutely devastated. Eight years on, our family are still feeling the impact and we all miss her like crazy. She was only in her 60s when she died, so it felt like she was taken far too soon.

“The Hospice at Home team cared for Mum at home and they were all so genuine and kind. They respected Mum’s dignity and I always remember how she used to make them laugh.

“It is our hope that by fundraising, we can help more families who have gone through a similar situation to our own. Our fundraising target is £200, which could fund almost fourteen hours of Hospice at Home care for someone just like Mum.”

Martin added, “My mum, Josie Thompson, was also cared for by St Barnabas Hospice until she died in 2008. St Barnabas is a cause very close to our family’s hearts, so I am glad that I can support them by taking on the Fire Walk.”

There is still time to sign up to the Fire Walk and join supporters like Hannah and Martin who are braving the coals in memory of loved ones. It costs just £35 and we ask that you pledge to raise £100 in sponsorship money.

To sign up, visit www.stbarnabashospice.co.uk/events/fire-walk-2022. Age 16+ only.