Category: Fundraising
Puddleducks Day Care in Lincoln is taking part in Rudy’s Run 2021 in memory of Sam Gibbins
My name is Caroline and I am an OFSTED registered childminder, working alongside my husband, Simon, at Puddleducks Day Care in Lincoln. We are honoured to be asked to take part in the Rudy’s Run again this year.
Last year we took part in Rudy’s Run after one of our children’s parents at the day care was suddenly diagnosed with cancer. Everyone will agree that the pandemic was a very challenging year, however cancer made it even tougher.
Sadly, Sam passed away in July of this year. Sam was an amazing, strong lady, and her passing was devastating for everyone at Puddleducks. Sam never wanted self-pity and her motto was to live every day like it’s your last. After speaking to Sam’s husband and children, we have decided to take on Rudy’s Run once again this year in memory of Sam. We are hoping to raise lots of money for St Barnabas Hospice along the way.
Sam always spoke so highly of St Barnabas, who helped her so much throughout her illness. Before Sam gained her angel wings, she sent this amazing message about St Barnabas to me:
“St Barnabas helped me to fill out forms etc. to get extra support, whilst also helping to approach the whole situation with my children. They were really quick with it and got it all sorted straight away. They are so helpful, and there’s always someone there to speak to or ask advice. I have had so much support, which I appreciate so much. I think what you’re doing is fantastic. I am overwhelmed with Puddleducks raising lots of money for St Barnabas and I will be there to wave and cheer you all on.”
Here’s a little insight into last year’s challenge, and I hope lots of people join us in taking part in Rudy’s Run to raise money for such an amazing charity.
Last year we were open throughout the pandemic and went above and beyond to offer our parents the flexibility and care that they all required. We found that Christmas was going to be a challenge and felt the children in our setting still needed a magical experience.
With Sam being diagnosed with terminal cancer, we wanted to do a little something to show her that we were here for her and would support her along the way. At the time, St Barnabas had already been amazing to the family, so we decided we would take on St Barnabas Rudy’s Run.
So, in December 2020 we set about organising a memberable experience. Rudy Reindeer came for a social distanced visit to Puddleducks, which the children loved, before we set upon our challenge. For two weeks we did various runs, walks, dances and prancing, but most importantly we had fun.
We also ran various competitions like colouring, word searches and quizzes. Every child had the opportunity to make reindeer food, reindeer biscuits and reindeer treats. St Barnabas provided each duckling with a red nose and antlers, whilst my husband made Rudy run medals for all of the children.
The challenges were then set, and everyone was so excited about the adventure ahead of us. Every under 5-year-old did a mile, with some doing even longer. The older ducklings even ran 5km after school!
Over the two weeks we would set off in the mornings to our local park to follow a course. We had lots of cheers and donations along the way, which really made the children beam with delight. Alongside this we had set up a JustGiving page where we managed to raise £2,095. This absolutely blew us all away! The children loved checking the growing amount every morning and reading the lovely messages of support that we received.
We had a Christmas dinner with crackers and all the trimmings, and a visit from Santa. We also played party games and sang Christmas songs. Every duckling thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience and talked about Rudy’s Run for ages.
To finish I would like to share a statement from Sam’s amazing daughter Jess:
“Earlier on this year, heaven gained a beautiful angel – my mum and Oscars grandma – Samantha Gibbins. Throughout her fight, she was surrounded by the most amazing people who supported and fought with her. Puddleducks accepted Oscar as one of their little ducklings, as they did previously with Mum’s youngest daughter, Abi. Puddleducks have shown such compassion and support, by raising money and completing charity events for St Barnabas. Rudy’s Run was the first event last Christmas, which was a sponsored run with all the children. The money raised was overwhelming and made my mum extremely proud. It helped her to remain positive and strong throughout her cancer journey. As a family we are eternally proud and grateful of the work Puddleducks have done and continue to do.”
“St Barnabas Hospice is like the hug you need after receiving your prognosis.”
Michelle Edwards is just 43 and was diagnosed with terminal metastatic breast cancer in her spine during the height of the coronavirus pandemic. Incredibly, it was her beloved dog, Bobby Peanut, who sniffed the cancer out and prompted her to see a doctor.
Michelle said, “Bobby Peanut is my absolute world. He gives me cuddles, his licks away my tears and he actually found the initial cancer in my breast. Although the cancer is terminal, I am so grateful for his intuition which led to me receiving a diagnosis and finding the angels at St Barnabas Hospice.
“The moment the doctor said that I only had one to five years left to live was completely head spinning. My mind went blank and the whole world stopped for a millisecond. Then everything seemed to speed up again, but I was still miles behind. I still don’t think I have fully come to terms with it all.
“I was referred to the Hospice by one of the nurses at hospital and initially had mobility support from their occupational therapists, which was a huge help. Since then, I have been supported by the Welfare team with accessing benefits, as well as receiving counselling, relaxation sessions and tai chi from the Wellbeing and Community Services teams. You don’t think you need counselling, but I found that I was able to say things to my counsellor that I could never say to my parents. Even just talking to the nurses brightens up bad days and makes me feel stronger.
“What meant the most to me was that the nurses kept coming out to see me even though we were in the middle of the pandemic. That physical presence has been priceless. They have shown me that a terminal diagnosis doesn’t mean your life needs to end there and then. I am actually hoping to zip wire over the coal mines in Wales next year to raise money for the Hospice!
“When I saw that the charity partner for the Lincoln Imp Trail was St Barnabas Hospice, I was over the moon! I have even bought a miniature imp which I plan to paint in a dragon design. The full-size statues are incredible, and I particularly love the RAF imp in his blue uniform. All the artists are so talented, and I can’t wait to see the statues in real life.
“I’ve got my scooter all charged up and my friend is visiting from London in a couple of weeks. It will be great to show her the sights of Lincoln as well as all the imps. You don’t realise how important fundraising is to charities like St Barnabas until you’re in a position like mine. Accessing their services really does mean everything.
“The people at St Barnabas are not just there for when you die, they also help you to make the most of your life right up until that moment. They are there for the difficult days and for the better days. The Hospice is like the hug you need after receiving your prognosis. I am not alone and nor is my family.
“Without people raising money for the Hospice through things like the Imp Trail, people like me just wouldn’t have access to such incredible support and care. If I can give back half of what St Barnabas has done for me then I’ll always do what I can.”
“Mum made me promise that I would go ahead with this run in August, but I so wish she was here to see me do it.”
On Thursday 19th August, Chris Bertins will begin his 830-mile run from Land’s End to John O’Groats, aiming to complete the challenge in just twelve days. He is doing this to raise money for St Barnabas Hospice, Umbrellas, Epilepsy Action and the RAF Regiment Heritage Centre in memory of his mum, Kim.
Chris, the owner of Rudies Roots Nurseries (garden centre) in Nettleham, has always been a keen athlete and chooses long distance running challenges to inspire others to push their boundaries and not settle for what they are used to. He said, “Exercising gives me a release from day-to-day pressures, and this is the first time I am using it as a way to fundraise for St Barnabas.
“My mum recently spent time in the St Barnabas Hospice Inpatient Unit in Lincoln after being diagnosed with terminal bowel cancer. It was a huge shock to the family and we only had three months to prepare.
“The care we received from the Hospice was amazing, even with coronavirus restrictions in place. We were able to visit her and spend valuable time together before she passed. The time we got with her will never be forgotten, and for that we are grateful.
“Mum was incredible; she was hard working and loved by everyone who knew her. She worked at our garden centre with the family and I felt so lucky to be able to work alongside her each day. She was my dad’s best friend and soul mate and we all miss her so much.
“It’s horrible going to work every day and she’s not there. Her boots are still at her desk and we used to make the hanging baskets together every year. I’ve worked long hours – partly so I don’t think, and partly because I want to do her proud and keep our reputation going. I’d give anything to have her back.
“Mum made me promise that I would go ahead with this run in August, but I so wish she was here to see me do it.”
So far, Chris has raised more than £1,000 to split between the four charities but is aiming to reach £10,000 by the end of his challenge. Visit www.challengechris.com to support him by donating.
Grantham charity festival returns to raise money in memory of beloved wife and mother
On Saturday 7th August, Knipfest returns once again to raise money for charities including St Barnabas Hospice, in memory of Julie Copley. The popular music festival will be held at Woodnook, home of the Kesteven Rugby Football Club.
In 2005, Julie was diagnosed with breast cancer and began chemotherapy and radiotherapy. During her time with cancer, she, along with husband John, organised two small festivals to raise money for breast cancer. They also took part in golf days, sponsored walks and other events, raising more than £50,000. 
In 2009, Julie’s cancer returned to her liver and bones and was sadly diagnosed as terminal. Again, she went through chemotherapy and radiotherapy, but unfortunately died on 13th February 2010, age just 41.
Julie’s husband, John Copley said, “Before Julie died, I asked my good friend Phil Noon if we could set up a festival to raise money for St Barnabas Hospice and Cancer Research. He agreed straight away and together with John Watchorn and David Pendford, we organised the first Knipfest.
“Since then, the event has grown year on year and now attracts a crowd of around 1,500 people. With the wonderful help from Kesteven Rugby Football Club, we normally raise around £20,000 to split between the charities.
“The care Julie received from St Barnabas Hospice was wonderful. She had home visits every single day for around six months, and without their help things would have been very difficult for her and for the family.
“She was an amazing, wonderful, beautiful woman who is sadly missed by myself, our three children and everyone who knew her. We do this festival in her memory and will continue to do so for as long as possible.
“I will forever be in debt to St Barnabas Hospice for the care they gave Julie, and this is just my way of thanking them for caring for her and the thousands of others who need their support.”
Over the years, Knipfest has raised an incredible £43,000 for St Barnabas Hospice.
Tickets are still available to purchase for this year’s Knipfest, starting at 3pm on Saturday 7th August at Kesteven Rugby Football Club, Grantham. They are priced at just £20.87 and can be purchased from www.knipfest.com.
“I can look after the wildflowers and talk to Dad at the same time when I just feel like I need him.”
Geoffrey Gowland was just 55 when he died, leaving behind his wife and children, Emma and Ashley. Emma has chosen to dedicate wildflowers in his memory to help her feel close to him, especially on tough days. She has done this through the St Barnabas Hospice Wildflower Memories Appeal. 
Emma said, “Dad had a really cheeky personality; he used to laugh and laugh at proper ‘dad jokes’ and was just a big child. He spent a lot of his life as a fireman helping others, and that was always his nature. He was the biggest family man and we were his life. As long as we were protected and safe, he was happy.
“He was diagnosed with cancer on 16th March 2016 and died just a couple of weeks later. Our heads were in a spin; we had barely managed to come to terms with his diagnosis before he was gone. My grandparents lost their son – Dad’s brother – when he was very young, so to find out they were losing another son just completely broke them.
“I felt like a lost little girl. I was 28 at the time 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 of our lives was St Barnabas Hospice. The dignity and care they showed my dad was like nothing I had ever imagined. From the moment the 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. 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.
“One memory which really stands out to me was the Lincoln 10k that year. For a few years, Dad had taken part in the 10k, so this time his friends decided to take it on to show their support for him. When the nurses found out, they came outside with me, held my hand and cheered Dad’s friends on as they ran past the Hospice. I felt so supported and cared for in that moment. 
“Growing wildflowers in Dad’s memory is so special to me. I recently bought my first house, which is the first big milestone in my life that he hasn’t been there for. The wildflowers are something I can plant in my garden so that a part of him is here with me. I can look after the wildflowers and talk to Dad at the same time when I just feel like I need him.
“It’s so easy to order your wildflowers – you can do it all online. Just visit www.stbarnabashospice.co.uk/wildflower and fill in a dedication form for your loved one with the amount you would like to donate. When you have finished, your dedication will appear on the screen and you can even share it on social media for friends and family to read!
“The lovely people at the Hospice will then post out your wildflower seeds, which are engrained into a beautiful painting done by Hannah Dale at Wrendale Designs. It comes with instructions on how to plant and care for the seeds, so could not be simpler.
“The seeds will carry on re-seeding themselves for years to come, so Dad can be there in my garden always.”
“If my experience has taught me anything, it’s that we should live for today. Don’t take for granted what you have – treasure it.”
Rachel Eldridge was diagnosed with a type of cancer in her 20s which caused her to completely reassess her life and live in the moment more. She has bravely decided to sign up and skydive in support of St Barnabas Hospice this September!
Rachel said, “I was 29 when I was diagnosed with Stage 2 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. In one simple moment, one doctor’s appointment, it literally felt like my world fell apart. What followed was a year filled with worry, with blood tests, scans, biopsies, twelve rounds of chemotherapy, more scans, pain, sickness, tiredness, medication, doctors’ appointments, hospital stays, until finally in 2011 I received my all clear.
“Without a doubt this remains the hardest thing I have ever been through; something I simply couldn’t have got through without the unfaltering support of my husband, family and friends.
“Around two years ago, I had another health scare which really made me evaluate my priorities. Thankfully it wasn’t anything sinister, but there’s nothing like a reminder of that nature to put things in perspective.
“So, on the 18th September, I will be marking my ten-year anniversary of that all-important all-clear result and my 40th birthday by throwing myself out of a plane for the fantastic charity that is St Barnabas. If my experience has taught me anything, it’s that we should live for today. Don’t take for granted what you have – treasure it.
“Skydiving is something I have always wanted to try, but somehow never managed to find the right reason to do it until now.
“St Barnabas provides an absolutely vital service to the people of Lincolnshire. In the current climate it is even more critical that they get the donations they need in order to continue to provide this service. Without a doubt I would think most people in Lincolnshire could think of someone they know whose life has been touched by St Barnabas Hospice.
“I feel so excited to have this opportunity, as well as slightly nervous. Any support with either sponsorship money or well wishes would be gratefully appreciated!”
To sponsor Rachel, visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Rachel-Eldridge3 or to sign up and skydive alongside her this September, visit stbarnabashospice.co.uk/events/skydive-september.
Father and daughter duo take on a summer cycling challenge in memory of Granny
On Yer Bike is back for Summer 2021, and first to sign up to this 100km cycling challenge were father and daughter duo, Jonathan (49) and Poppy (11) from Lincoln.
St Barnabas first launched this challenge in 2020 to help supporters exercise and fundraise whilst following government guidelines during the pandemic. In total, 83 people took part and raised an incredible £23,272 between them!
The challenge has been resurrected this summer and St Barnabas are asking supporters to cycle 100km in a day, week, month or over the course of the summer to raise money. It really is for people of all cycling abilities as you are in control over how long you take to complete the challenge. You can complete the challenge on any bike of choice, whether that’s an exercise bike indoors or a bicycle outdoors.
Jonathan and Poppy are cycling in memory of their mum/granny who sadly died at the St Barnabas Hospice Inpatient Unit on Nettleham Road. 
Jonathan said, “We sadly lost Mum twenty years ago and want to give something back to this wonderful charity to say thank you for the amazing care she received. Unfortunately, Poppy never had the privilege to meet her Granny, but I know she would be so proud of what Poppy is doing now.
“Poppy and I enjoy cycling together as it is good for our fitness and great for father-daughter bonding time together. We have been cycling round the Lincoln area and making the most of the glorious weather over the past few weeks.
“Mum was such a lovely lady and an inspiration to so many people. Not only was she a fantastic, caring mother to me and my younger brother, Jamie, she was also an NHS nurse and later in life worked in private nursing homes. In her spare time she was active within the Salvation Army, playing cornet in their band and singing soprano in the Songsters.
“The care Mum received when she was in the Hospice was honestly better than a 10* hotel in Dubai! Nothing was too much trouble; from the warm welcome when we were visiting, cups of tea, they even offered a meal to close family. As a family we can’t thank everyone involved enough. We can take comfort in the dignified and peaceful passing provided.”
Poppy added, “I enjoy riding my bike. Me and dad have a laugh while we are out cycling and I have learnt a lot that I didn’t know about my Gran until we started this challenge.” 
Poppy and Jonathan have already quadrupled their initial fundraising target of £100 and are determined to raise more money before their challenge draws to a close. To sponsor them, visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Jonathan-Willows1.
On Yer Bike is open to sign ups throughout the summer, and it costs just £12 to get involved. Upon signing up, participants will get to choose between a free branded cycling top or t-shirt (adults) or a free branded t-shirt or water bottle (children).
Visit www.stbarnabashospice.co.uk/onyerbike to sign up!
St Barnabas employee remembers beloved mum by planting wildflowers in her memory
St Barnabas Hospice has today launched a new in memory appeal featuring Marie Pattison who has worked in their Supporter Care team for over 37 years and whose mum was cared for by the Hospice last year.
The Wildflower Appeal enables people to remember loved ones by planting wildflowers in their memory. By making a dedication to a loved one on the St Barnabas website, supporters will receive a special piece of artwork drawn by the talented Hannah Dale of Wrendale Designs. The wildflower seeds are engrained within this card, which has been specially made to be planted outside.
Marie Pattison, Supporter Care Officer at St Barnabas Hospice said, “My mum was the loveliest lady you could ever know. I know a lot of people would say that about their mum, but her positive outlook on life shone through to everyone who knew her. When St Barnabas took over her care, they gave our family the chance to see mum shining once again. She was my best friend and I miss her greatly. 
“Last year she developed a pain in her shoulder which was diagnosed as a fractured clavicle bone. Further tests then revealed that she had pancreatic and lung cancer, as well as vascular dementia. The news rocked our family and we had to come to terms with the fact that Mum had little time left with us.
“St Barnabas Hospice stepped in and immediately helped to ease the load as we adjusted to caring for her. The nurses are absolute angels and I will never forget the lengths they went to in looking after Mum.
“Mum was a very elegant lady and always took great care of her appearance. I remember visiting her at the Hospice one day and the nurses had done her hair beautifully and painted her nails. They had given me my mum back for those last few days and that meant the absolute world to me.
“Mum’s biggest passion in life was her garden, and she loved watching the bees, butterflies and flowers from her special bench. My wildflower seeds will grow in one of Mum’s plant pots to honour her memory. I like to think that she will be sat watching over my garden, and these flowers will bring me closer to her when I am outside.”
St Barnabas Hospice would like to issue its thanks to Hannah from Wrendale Designs, Flowers by Mandy and Doddington Hall and Gardens for supporting this appeal.
Hannah Dale said, “I am delighted to support St Barnabas Hospice once again with the donation of the artwork ‘A Lincolnshire Meadow’. It was inspired by the wildflowers and animals that make their home in our beautiful county. The money raised by the appeal will allow St Barnabas to offer more people in Lincolnshire compassionate end-of-life care.”
The Wildflower Appeal is available to all those who have lost loved ones, not just the families of those cared for by St Barnabas Hospice. A donation of just £34.17 could cover the cost of one hour of specialist care at the Hospice, just like Marie’s mum had.
Marie said, “It warms my heart to know many gardens will be filled with life because of this appeal. Our loved ones will live on in the beautiful flowers that grow.”
To make your wildflower dedication and receive a special limited edition seeded card, visit www.stbarnabashospice.co.uk/wildflower
Wright Vigar takes on mammoth walking challenge to support St Barnabas
Wright Vigar, an accountancy company based in the East Midlands and London, decided to put their own spin on the Don’t Quit, Get Fit challenge, tasking their teams to walk the equivalent distance from their Lincoln to London office (a total of 130 miles)!
A St Barnabas nurse walks an average of 12,000 steps in one shift, meaning it would take them just over 21 days to walk a similar distance.
On average in the UK, we sit for 8.9 hours a day. For office workers, the majority of these hours are sat at a desk, which can create health risks. Understanding these risks, Wright Vigar have decided to give their teams a reason to get out and be active, knowing they are supporting such a worthwhile cause.
Tom Maxwell from Wright Vigar said, “If you have the chance, get involved with other people as it really helps to keep you motivated along the way. And remember, it doesn’t always have to be a race. Go at your own pace but be consistent and you will get there.
“St Barnabas make it really easy for you to get involved and are always on hand to answer any questions you might have about your fundraising efforts. They guide you through the process of getting your fundraiser set up and are always checking in to see how things are going.
“The team have always supported St Barnabas, previously taking on the Accumulator Challenge, as they really appreciate the work they do, understand how important it is and the amount of people it benefits. Our aim was to raise £500 with this challenge, but have actually raised £670 which will be match funded.
“Many of us have been working at home for a large proportion of the pandemic and doing some exercise provides a refreshing change of scenery to help clear your mind and gets your blood flowing. There’s nothing quite like fresh air and some exercise to get your creative juices flowing and boost energy levels.”
Click here to take part in the Don’t Quit, Get Fit challenge.
Lincolnshire Training Hub takes on Don’t Quit, Get Fit challenge for St Barnabas Hospice
Every day throughout April, members of the Lincolnshire Training Hub team (including GPs, nurses, management staff, medical students and nursing students) donned their walking shoes to clock up as many miles as they could across Lincolnshire!
Together, they smashed their target distance of 1500 miles. That’s more than double the distance from Land’s End to John O’Groats! They have raised an incredible £750 for the Hospice.
Ruth Pollock, Project Manager at the Training Hub said, “As a primary care team, we are very aware of the health and wellbeing benefits of exercise. Getting outside and exercising is a great way to boost resilience and lose lockdown pounds! We found that having a target distance to aim for really spurs us on, as does undertaking the challenge as part of a team.
“The support provided by St Barnabas has been fantastic every step of the way. As well as written guidelines on how to set up a JustGiving page, fundraising tips and printable exercise logs, we have received regular phone calls to support and encourage us throughout the challenge.
“This is our first fundraising challenge in aid of St Barnabas. We have undertaken this challenge as we are aware that St Barnabas Hospice is currently losing £1,370 in fundraising and shop income every day due to Covid-19. We are hoping to raise as much money as we can to help them continue their vital work with terminally ill patients across Lincolnshire.
“Many of our team are front-line NHS clinicians and the pandemic has brought with it unprecedented challenges. Exercising outdoors is proven to lower blood pressure and stress levels and improve both physical and mental health.”
Click here to sign up for the Don’t Quit, Get Fit challenge.