Category: Fundraising
Wing walking in memory of an incredible lady
By Steph Armstrong, St Barnabas Hospice supporter
“This year my partner Micheal (37) is helping to raise money for St Barnabas. He is signed up to do the wing walk event on 8th August at Wickenby Airfield in Lincolnshire. We have supported the Hospice for a few years now, by taking part in some of the events to raise money. In 2019 we did the 5k Colour Dash which we really enjoyed doing together as a couple.
“We support the Hospice by taking part in events because St Barnabas supported my mum during her short illness. Her illness came so unexpectedly and it rocked the whole family. It was a devastating time and a sad situation to see our mum go through. She was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour in September 2010 and sadly passed away peacefully within the care of St Barnabas Hospice on 26th February 2011, after receiving the vital care she needed towards the end of her life.
“She was a hardworking, caring mother of seven children, she always put herself last even when she was ill. She just cared about all of us children at the time and how things would affect us when she was gone. She loved driving in her car before she became ill, loved a magazine and good book. She was the manager in Cooplands bakery in Lincoln town centre. She was a lifetime partner to my dad Mark; they were together from teenagers up until the age of 39 when she sadly passed away. It left a big hole in all of our lives.
“Micheal is also raising money in memory of his friend’s mum who passed away in 2018 and was also cared for by the Hospice.
“Micheal has never done anything like this before. He is feeling good about doing the event, and looking forward to the whole experience. I am proud of him for helping the Hospice that supported my mum. I think for anyone considering doing the event I would just say the donations raised are going to such a great cause, supporting the care the Hospice is able to provide to patients and their families. For anyone considering the event, give it a go! It will be an unforgettable experience and we are looking forward to the event on the day.”
Click here to make a donation and support Micheal’s wing walking.
Click here to sign up and take part alongside him.
“I took part in the Sportive last year and got such a buzz from it that I decided to sign up again.”
Nigel Cooper has signed up to cycle 75 miles in a day as part of the GIANT Lincoln Cycle Sportive, which he is doing to raise money for St Barnabas Hospice in memory of his mum.
Nigel said, “I took part in the Sportive last year and got such a buzz from it that I decided to sign up again. Last year, the Fundraising team were very supportive, providing me with a St Barnabas cycling top which I wore with pride. They were very engaging.
“I have supported the charity for six years now and it has been nice to raise money for such a worthy cause.
“My mum passed away 20 years ago, so I will be cycling in her memory. She was diagnosed it cancer, but sadly it was too late for doctors to help.
“Mum was a very giving and fun person. She was keen to raise money for local charities by holding jumble sales in the family garden. She created a sense of community and everyone wanted to be involved. She even got local Radio Norfolk presenter, Roy Waller, to open the jumble sales!
“The reason I cycle is to keep fit, and it has particularly helped me during the pandemic, both mentally and physically.”
To sponsor Nigel, visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Nigel-Cooper5
The GIANT Lincoln Cycle Sportive takes place on Sunday 27th June, beginning at Doddington Hall. To find out more information and sign up, visit www.stbarnabashospice.co.uk/giantsportive.
Our gin collaboration with Bottomley Distillers is just the tonic!
St Barnabas Hospice is partnering with Lincolnshire-based brand Pin Gin for a second time to raise essential funds with the launch of its second collaborative gin, ‘Est. 1982 Flora.’ 
Following the success of last year’s ‘Est. 1982 Bramble’, which also raised money for the hospice, Bottomley Distillers (home of award winning brand Pin Gin), a distillery based in Louth, Lincolnshire, has created a limited edition London dry gin with floral notes of pomegranate blossom and earthy tones from fresh lavender.
Veronica McBain, Head of Fundraising and Lottery, said: “We are so excited to be Pin Gin’s charity partner for the second year in a row, and this new gin launch will be a great way to raise funds for our essential end-of-life care.
“Last year’s partnership raised over £6,500 for our work, and we are so excited to see this new line of gin being launched. Over £14 from every sale will be donated to the hospice, so it’s a great way of not only supporting a local business but also raising much-needed funds.”
Bottomley Distillers is a family-owned distillery with a heritage dating back to the 1950s with the original founder Mr Stansfield Bottomley. Mr Bottomley was a small scale whisky producer, beginning in West Yorkshire before moving on to Lincolnshire in the early 1980s. 
Alan Bottomley, his youngest son, was always fascinated by the production of spirit. In 2016, inspired by this inherited skill and the rise in the craft market, he decided to modernise those nearly lost techniques.
Amy Conyard at Bottomley Distillers said: “We are delighted to be collaborating with St Barnabas once again for the second year running and to be supporting a local cause. All profits from the sale of this gin will go directly to St Barnabas Hospice and we hope that this is going to ultimately result in a considerable donation that we can make to the charity.”
You can buy bottles of ‘Est. 1982 Flora’ from Pin Gin’s website www.bottomleydistillers.co.uk//product-page/est-1982-flora-70cl and selected stockists.
“I’m so excited to see that Gin and Jammies has returned again this year with a virtual event, and who isn’t a fan of Gary Barlow’s music?”
Written by Karen Powell, St Barnabas supporter
“I was diagnosed with melanoma skin cancer in June 2011. Eight years later, I found a lump in my groin and I was absolutely devastated. I had surgery to remove ten lymph nodes, but it wasn’t a success. A PET scan showed inoperable melanoma in more nodes, so my cancer became stage four and I began palliative immunotherapy treatment in 2020.
“Immunotherapy treatment was tough. My body reacted badly to it and it attacked my lungs, leaving me vulnerable to catching the coronavirus. My mental health was also affected as a combination of shielding and steroids caused me to gain weight.
“I threw a Gin and Jammies party just before the lockdown because it seemed like the perfect excuse to get the girls round and have some fun for charity. We played Jenga, table top curling and pass the parcel. There was laughter and chat, as well as gin and prosecco! It was a much-needed catch-up and gave me a reason to forget about my cancer.
“The party raised £250 and I feel so glad to know that this money has helped to support people across Lincolnshire in a similar position to me. St Barnabas does such an incredible job supporting the people of Lincolnshire and you really don’t know if you or a loved one will ever need their services. If the time came, I would have no hesitation in calling upon St Barnabas to support my family and I through difficult times.
“When I was able to come off the steroids later that year, I started a fitness plan and began going for walks once it was safe to do so. Then in March 2021 I received the amazing news that my cancer is now in remission. To say I am over the moon is an understatement!
“I’m so excited to see that Gin and Jammies has returned again this year with a virtual event, and who isn’t a fan of Gary Barlow’s music? It’s certainly something I will be telling the girls all about.
“I also have plans to walk a whole marathon and raise money for St Barnabas. It will be tough, but I’m determined to do it.”
“Tickets cost just £20 per person, giving you exclusive access to the online event, as well as a party pack with gin, tonic, cocktail recipes, spa products, wax melts, a silk eye mask and more! You can buy tickets at www.stbarnabashospice.co.uk/ginandjammies.”
Gary Barlow tribute artiste to host gin, jammies and spa evening in support of local hospice
Join Dan Hadfield, the number one Gary Barlow tribute artiste, as he hosts Gin and Jammies: Just the Tonic on behalf of St Barnabas Hospice.
The third lockdown has been tough for so many people, so St Barnabas Hospice has launched their Gin and Jammies: Just the Tonic event to give their supporters a relaxing and unique night in filled with local entertainment.
Taking place online, the event will be hosted by Dan Hadfield, the number one Gary Barlow tribute artiste. As well as hosting, Dan will be performing some of Gary and Take That’s greatest hits live!
Also on the night, join Amy Conyard, co-owner of the Pin Gin brand and director of Next Frontier Brands, as she puts on an interactive gin tasting and cocktail making session. Relax with Nicola Young from Beautiful Panda and take part in her interactive ‘at-home’ Temple Spa beauty session, and hear from Sarah Barker and Lottie Donaldson from Addicted to Scents on their introduction to wax melts.
Tickets to this exciting event are priced at just £20 per person, which gives access to all of the above, plus a special party pack for each attendee. In the party pack you will receive a sample of the brand new St Barnabas gin made in collaboration with Pin Gin, mixer, a shopping list to make gin cocktails on the night, mini Temple Spa beauty products, a silk eye mask and wax melts from Addicted to Scents.
One lucky ticketholder will also win a luxury hamper!
Dan Hadfield, host for the evening said, “We are running an amazing online event with St Barnabas Hospice to raise money for the amazing things they do for individuals and families across Lincolnshire. We’ve got cocktail making, gin tasting, spa and beauty treatments, wax melts to burn, and a bit of music on the side sung by yours truly.
I cannot wait to be there; it’s going to be amazing! There’s a hamper to win and lots of things to do. It’s going to be the greatest night of our lives!”
Rebecca Hooton, Fundraising Officer at St Barnabas Hospice added, “It has been devastating for us to cancel so many events due to the coronavirus pandemic, and our estimated losses now stand at around £2 million. This is why we are delighted to be hosting Gin and Jammies: Just the Tonic, as it means we can reconnect with many of our supporters and give them ‘the greatest night of their lives!’
The evening will be full of local entertainment and I would like to say a massive thank you to everyone involved. Tickets are already selling fast, so come and join us for a fabulous evening!”
Tickets can be purchased from www.stbarnabashospice.co.uk/ginandjammies. For more information, email fundraising@stbarnabashospice.co.uk or call 01522 540 300.
Puddleducks Daycare are taking part in the Bunny Hop in support of parent who is terminally ill
Caroline Baker, owner of Puddleducks Daycare recently took part in St Barnabas Hospice’s Rudy’s Run fundraiser and is excited to be raising more funds with our Bunny Hop. We caught up with her to find out more:
How many children do you have in your early years setting?
We have 24 children (15 families) that attend our setting at different times throughout the year. Some are here all year around when others are with us school term only.
Why did you take part in Rudy’s Run and will you be taking part in the St Barnabas Bunny Hop?
Everyone has found the pandemic extremely hard and we didn’t think it could get any worse. Then we found out that a parent, Sam, within our setting had terminal cancer. This affected everyone and we wanted to do something to help.
Our duckling mum Sam is a very strong person and would never want self pity so we decided to take on the challenge of Rudy’s Run to give a little back to St Barnabas who have been amazing. Because the Rudy’s Run went so well, we will be taking part in the Bunny Hop and we can’t wait to get started! Our motto will be to ‘hop into a brighter future’ which we feel is perfect with coming out of lockdown too
What happened on the day?
Every under 5 year old did a mile, with some doing even longer, the older ducklings 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 with people supporting us which really made the children beam with delight. Alongside this, we had set up a Just Giving page where we managed to raise £2,095, which absolutely blew us all away.
Our target was £200 but in the first 24 hours we had smashed this and the total started to rise.
On the day that the children took part in Rudy’s Run, we also had a Christmas Dinner with crackers and all the trimmings and a visit from Santa. We played party games and also sang Christmas songs. Every duckling thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience and talked about Rudy’s Run for ages.
Myself and my husband are so lucky that we are in a job that we absolutely love. We have 3 grown up children of our own who also will step up to the challenge whilst working alongside the most amazing families and children ever. When a child joins our setting they are not a number but become a part of our duckling family.
How fun did you find raising money for St Barnabas in this way?
Everyone at Puddleducks thoroughly enjoyed raising the money. The best thing we did was to set up a just giving page. Every parent then shared it on social media. The children were so excited when people sponsored us. Every morning we would see the growing total whilst reading out the amazing messages that every had left us.
How much did Puddleducks raise for Rudy’s Run?
We raised £2090 which was above and beyond what we had set out to raise.
What sort of feedback did you get from children and parents?
The children and parents loved the whole experience. The excitement on the build up to the event was brilliant. Everyone put their heart and soul into the event. The children were particularly excited! This was so important with the daunting things that were happening around us and was a really welcome thing to focus on.
Did Rudy’s Run have a positive impact on the children’s mental health?
Most certainly, and seeing the smiles on each of the children’s little faces said it all.
What are you most looking forward to about the Bunny Hop?
To raise lots of money for St Barnabas, but also for the children to have something positive to look forward to, while having fun along the way.
Tony Lake and Lindsay Nearn are taking part in Don’t Quit, Get Fit in memory of Tony’s grandma
Tony Lake and Lindsay Nearn have taken part in ‘Don’t Quit, Get Fit’ to raise money for St Barnabas Hospice in memory of Tony’s grandma. Their challenge was to run 100km each in January, as well as completing an additional 17.5km run from LJM Homecare to St Barnabas.
In total, the pair have raised more than £600 for the Hospice.
Tony said, “We decided that we wanted to push ourselves to feel healthier and raise money for a charity which we have worked closely with over the last few years. Both of us have battled with our weight in the past and have lost considerable amounts of weight. It’s the greatest feeling that we can now both do this!
“We have had regular contact with Paisley from St Barnabas who has been very keen to see where we are up to with our fundraiser and if there is anything else she can do to help. The positive support received is just brilliant and inspires us to push harder.
“I have worked closely with St Barnabas since 2012 and on a personal level, St Barnabas helped my grandma to get out of hospital and back home for her final days. It would be hard to find a single person in the area who hasn’t known someone that has been helped by St Barnabas.
“We are inspired to exercise by the fantastic feeling of accomplishment, mental health aid and generally feeling so much healthier in every aspect of life. As said by Kano Jigoro: “It is not important to be better than someone else, but to be better than yesterday.”
Tony and Lindsay are already planning their next challenge, which will be completing the Three Peaks (Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon) within 24 hours.
Don’t Quit, Get Fit is completely free to sign up to. Those who create a fundraising page on JustGiving as part of their challenge will also receive a free St Barnabas water bottle.
Make a positive change in your life today, just like Tony and Lindsay, and sign up at www.stbarnabashospice.co.uk/dontquit
Jason Baker is taking part in Don’t Quit, Get Fit in memory of his mum
Jason Baker is planning to take on a marathon run this year for his ‘Don’t Quit, Get Fit’ challenge in support of St Barnabas. He fundraises for the Hospice in memory of his mum, Heather Baker.
Jason said, “Mum was diagnosed with metastatic cancer and chronic obstructive lung disease before spending her final weeks at the St Barnabas Hospice in the Hospital in Grantham. 
“My two brothers and I all took it in turns to stay with Mum overnight at the Hospice and the staff there could not do enough to help us. We often had takeaways and they made sure we had everything we needed.
“Mum was so proud of her Scottish heritage and we used to go up to Scotland every year for our holidays. She enjoyed a “wee dram of whisky” and always had “one for the road” even in her last days at the Hospice. The nurses told us mum would be gone soon and they helped us to play her favourite Scottish music and allowed us to give her a few drops of her favourite whisky.
“She passed away with dignity and in a peaceful environment.”
Already, Jason has been doing lots of running to raise money for St Barnabas. His reservoir challenge in 2020 saw him complete 14.8 miles of running around Draycote Reservoir, Ravensthorpe and Pitsford Reservoir.
Jason said, “I was having a think about my mum and thought how proud she would have been to see me running. That’s when the lightbulb moment happened… why don’t I run all three reservoirs together?
“My wife, Rachael inspired me to run. She had been running around two years before I decided to give it a go and I really admired her physical and mental strength. I was struggling with my mental health and looking back I think this was a delayed reaction to the passing of my mum. 
“My top tip for new runners is to set a goal to keep the motivation. Keep remembering that positive buzz you get after completing a run and don’t give in as it will get easier.
“When I first spoke to St Barnabas about my fundraising, their support was amazing. I had regular phone conversations with updates on the training and the fundraising pack, running shirt, neck scarf and gels were brilliant. I also joined their private Facebook group for other fundraising supporters like myself and the support and encouragement I got from this group was incredible.”
Don’t Quit, Get Fit is completely free to sign up to. Those who create a fundraising page on JustGiving as part of their challenge will also receive a free St Barnabas water bottle.
Make a positive change in your life today, just like Jason, and sign up at www.stbarnabashospice.co.uk/dontquit
Robin Mapleston is taking part in Don’t Quit, Get Fit with his son, Jack!
This year, Robin Mapleston and his son will be completing the challenge of climbing the UK’s tallest mountains (Ben Nevis, Scafell and Snowdon) within a week, as part of St Barnabas Hospice’s ‘Don’t Quit, Get Fit’ campaign. This follows on from a swimming challenge that Robin took part in last year where he swam 21 miles (the distance of the English Channel) in 21 days!
Robin said, “I very badly tore all my ankle ligaments in September 2020 and wanted a challenge to keep me active whilst I recovered. Swimming has always been a big part of my fitness routine but to challenge myself to swim further than I had done before over a short period of time was the perfect test. Raising more than £1,000 for St Barnabas (including Gift Aid) was an amazing way to stay focussed! Now I have this under my belt, I feel more confident my ankle will be ok to take on the mountains.”
£1,000 is an incredible amount of money and would fund 28 physiotherapy or occupational therapy sessions to help patients maintain their independence.
Robin added, “I started supporting St Barnabas Hospice after my mum was diagnosed with cancer. My son and I wanted to do something to raise money for a charity close to her heart, and she asked us to choose St Barnabas. Mum had a number of friends who were cared for by the Hospice, so it brings it close to home for us.
“Having the St Barnabas Fundraising team there to support me through my challenges has been invaluable. Whether it is a formal piece of support or simply a “well done,” it means the world when you’re in the middle of a challenge.
“I think that keeping fit and healthy is inspiration in itself. Once you break through the wall that inevitably hits everyone that takes on a challenge, you find a feeling of being alive and happy. Exercise has been so helpful for me during the pandemic. More so for children, where I run Zoom fitness sessions for my under 13’s rugby team to keep them exercising whilst schools and sports groups are closed.”
Don’t Quit, Get Fit is completely free to sign up to. Those who create a fundraising page on JustGiving as part of their challenge will also receive a free St Barnabas water bottle.
Make a positive change in your life today, just like Robin, and sign up at www.stbarnabashospice.co.uk/dontquit
Mike Bosnell is taking part in Don’t Quit, Get Fit with his dog, Florrie!
Mike Bosnell took up running during the first lockdown using the ‘couch to 5k’ challenge and then joined St Barnabas Hospice for ‘Gone Running’ along with his partner’s dog, Florrie. He has now taken up the Hospice’s ‘Don’t Quit, Get Fit’ challenge and will be using it as training for the Great North Run in September.
Mike said, “There could be no better cause than St Barnabas and I want to do my bit to repay the kindness and care they gave my mum when she passed away.
“My dad once said to me, “your mum’s the best friend you’ll ever have,” which was so true. Mum was caring, loving and always there for me. We had many laughs over the years and our love was unconditional. When she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, I was simply devastated. It is still so very hard now; even the simplest of things can sometimes bring tears.
“St Barnabas came to her house and cared for her, allowing her to remain at home until she passed away. Their care was unbelievable, and it had the personal touch.
Mike is currently doing two four-mile runs and one six-mile run each week as he trains for the Great North Run. His plan is to slowly build distance in order to reach the thirteen-mile target.
Mike said, “Running gives me a massive fitness boost and has greatly helped with a heart and blood pressure condition which I was diagnosed with. My most recent annual check-up was the best I have ever had, with both my heart rate and blood pressure being normal! After telling my doctor about the running I have taken up, he told me not to stop and explained in more detail how the running was helping me.
“For anyone just starting out with running, my main piece of advice is to get the correct running shoes. I went to Lincolnshire Runner, explained the type of running I was doing, and they did the rest for me! I also think you need to be sensible with distances and always make sure to warm up.
“For my Don’t Quit, Get Fit challenge, I will be maintaining my three-day running programme each week along with Florrie. The support I received from St Barnabas has been second to none. They have helped with everything from running kit to suggested training programmes and are always on the end of the phone if I need anything.”
Don’t Quit, Get Fit runs from January to March 2021 and it is completely free to sign up. Those who create a fundraising page on JustGiving as part of their challenge will also receive a free St Barnabas water bottle.
Make a positive change in your life today, just like Mike, and sign up at www.stbarnabashospice.co.uk/dontquit