Category: Fundraising

Sarah-Jane will be performing at the dance

Guests are invited to reminisce and enjoy an afternoon filled with music, dance and nostalgia

On Sunday 8th March from 2 – 5pm, St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice is hosting their annual Vintage Tea Dance at Walton Girls High School, Harlaxton Road in Grantham.

Music will be provided by popular vintage DJ Major Swing who will play music from the 1930’s to 1950’s. Vintage vocalist Sarah-Jane will also be making a guest appearance and performing throughout the afternoon.

Guests are invited to indulge in dances from the Palais Glide to Swing in addition to period ballroom and communal dances such as the Gay Gordons. Afternoon Tea and home-made cakes will also be available to buy.

Janie McCormick, Events Fundraiser for St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice, said:

“The Vintage Tea Dance is like taking a step back in time. People come from across the county to attend, with many of them choosing to dress in period clothing which adds a great atmosphere to the whole afternoon.”

Tickets can be bought online at www.stbarnabashospice.co.uk/vintdance

Tickets are priced at £5 for adults (Over 16) and £3.50 for children (16 and under). Tickets can also be bought on the afternoon of the dance and will cost £6 for adults and £4.50 for children.

Janie concludes:

“Last years Dance was held on Mothers Day and proved a popular choice for those looking for a gift with a difference. It attracted a diverse group of people and offered our younger guests a taste of the past.”

For further information contact Janie McCormick on 01476 591010 or email janie.mccormick@stbarnabashospice.co.uk

Childhood sweethearts Chris and Alie Brooker

A Lincolnshire couple who lost their sister-in-law to cancer in 2014 have been raising vital funds for the hospice that cared for her

Julie Marshall, 58 and Simon Marshall, 57 both from Navenby raised £1,140 when they ran the Danwood Lincoln Santa Run on Sunday 14th December 2014.

The couple took on the challenge to raise money for St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice where their sister-in-law, Alie Brooker died, aged 47, on 17th February 2014.

Julie said: “It was so important for us to be able to give something back to the organisation that had cared for Alie, when she had needed it most. The Santa Run was a fitting tribute to a woman who was bubbly, outgoing and so full of life.”

The mum of four had spent her last few weeks being cared for at the hospice which supported her husband and children aged 12, 14, 19 and 22, during her illness. The hospice had also extended its support to the rest of Alie’s family and her close friends.

Husband Chris Brooker, 50, said:

“Alie’s diagnosis came completely out of the blue. It was New Year’s Eve 2013 and Alie was in the hospital to have her arm looked at following an incident involving her power steering belt snapping on her car. An x-ray soon revealed that Alie had broken her humerus bone plus she had fractures to her ribs and hip area.

“These injuries were inconsistent with Alie’s accident which was one with no trauma attached to it. It was then that the Doctors revealed their suspicions; Alie could have cancer. In a matter of days our worse fears were confirmed by the results of a biopsy.

“It was then that Alie was diagnosed with secondary bone cancer. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Alie had always been in good health and apart from the pain in her arm there hadn’t been any symptoms.”

Alie and Chris had been together for 33 years and married for 26 years. They had met when Alie was only 15 and had built their lives together.

“Up to this point I hadn’t told our children about the cancer because Alie and I had wanted to sit down with them and tell them together at home, alongside the rest of the family. Alie was put on a course of treatment of radiotherapy and suffered severe side effects that made her extremely unwell and further weakened her already brittle bones.

“With Alie too poorly to return home I took the decision to tell our children myself. It was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do, but I had to tell them. It just wasn’t fair to leave them in the dark for one day longer.”

Alie’s health continued to deteriorate and after only three weeks in the hospital Chris was given the news he had been dreading.

“The Doctor told me Alie’s cancer was far more aggressive than they had first thought. Her body was struggling under the strain of the cancer and the treatment. It was then they delivered the worst news of all; Alie had only hours or at best days left to live.

“I was utterly shocked. The wind was completely knocked out of me. It was as though I had found myself trapped in a nightmare that I couldn’t wake up from. They hadn’t told Alie yet and even though I knew it would be difficult, she had to hear the news from me. After all Alie was my wife, the love of my life, my best friend and my soul mate.

“Alie reacted incredibly well to the news, she was such a strong character and that was apparent now more than ever. I was awe struck by her bravery and how she was managing to face this devastating news head on.”

Chris was familiar with the services of his local hospice and Alie was admitted into the care of St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice on 24th January 2014.

Chris said: “After only a short while at St Barnabas Alie’s condition improved considerably and her spirits lifted. I accredit this to the expert care she was receiving from the specialist team who are experienced enough to know how to look after someone at the end of their life.

“The team of staff and volunteers demonstrated such sincere compassion and even set up a bed in Alie’s room for me because they understood that I couldn’t be away from her for a single second.

“St Barnabas always cared for Alie with the utmost dignity and respect. We always felt like Alie was a priority and nothing was ever too much trouble. The hospice team were always sensitive to how the family was feeling and they were always there to support each and every one of us.

“Alie was keen to have certain things in order with regard to her funeral and where her final resting place would be. I know she was comforted somewhat by having these plans in place. She didn’t want to be involved with the rest of her funeral arrangements but knew we would do her proud and everybody did.”

Alie Brooker died in the hospice on 17th February aged 47.

Chris said: “The end came quite quickly for Alie. She became very weak and deteriorated suddenly. I called our children and family who rushed to be by her bedside and they were able to see her one final time.

“When Alie took her final breath, it was just me and her alone; it was a very private and very painful moment. But it’s how she wanted it, how we both wanted it.

“I think it is a common misconception that people go to the hospice to die. Yes Alie died in the hospice but because of them we were able to share four more precious weeks together. It was time we never thought we’d have.”

St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice is offering 15 spaces free in exchange for sponsorship

St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice is looking for runners to fill their charity spaces in the Lincoln 10k.

The local hospice is one of the official partner charities of this years Lincoln 10k which is set to take place on Sunday 22nd March.

As part of that partnership St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice has 15 exclusive places reserved for runners who are asked to raise a minimum of £100 sponsorship.

Veronica Brien, Head of Fundraising and Marketing for St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice, said:

“We are absolutely delighted to be on board with this years City of Lincoln 10k and we are proud to have been chosen as one of the official charities. The 10k run offers us the opportunity to raise the vital funds we need to continue providing end of life care across Lincolnshire.

“We are looking for runners of all abilities to represent us in this years Lincoln 10k and pledge their support for the people of Lincolnshire. It is only with the generous support of our local community that we are able to care for more than 8,000 people a year.”

To help participants prepare for the 10k road race the charity has also partnered with local personal trainer, Shane Clarke. He has devised a basic personal fitness programme which is being shared weekly on St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice Facebook page.

Veronica said: “Runners who take up our exclusive charity spaces will receive a St Barnabas running vest and support with their fundraising efforts. Plus we will be waiting for them to cross the finish line in the charity village.

“The Lincoln 10k can be many things to many different people. It can be the chance to get fit, lose weight or set a personal best time. Whatever your reasons for running we urge our local community to run for us and run for end of life care.”

For more information on how to claim a charity space in the Lincoln 10k email fundraising@stbarnabashospice.co.uk

Guests at last years Murder Mystery Supper

Guests will enjoy a three course supper before determining ‘Who Killed Cupid?’

On Friday 13th February from 7pm, St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice is hosting their second annual Valentine’s Murder Mystery Supper at The Masonic Centre, Chambers Street in Grantham.

The theme of the evening is ‘Who Killed Cupid?’ where guests will be invited to piece together a series of clues courtesy of the Grantham Amateur Dramatic Society. Guests will be encouraged to use their powers of detection either individually or as a team to discover the culprit.

Janie McCormick, Community Events Fundraiser for St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice, said:

“We held our first ever Murder Mystery Supper last year and it was extremely successful. We raised in excess of £1,000 and we were delighted by the number of people who came along to show their support.

“The evening was thoroughly enjoyed by all those who attended with several guests managing to determine who the culprit was.”

This years Murder Mystery Supper will feature a bar, raffle and three course supper. Tickets are priced at £20 per person (ticket price includes the three course supper) and can be purchased online at www.stbarnabashospice.co.uk/ValentinesSupper

For more information contact Janie McCormick on 01476 591010 or email janie.mccormick@stbarnabashospice.co.uk

From left to right: Sharon Yell, Sarah Ward (General Manager for St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice) and Diane Bell.

Two sisters spent more than a year planning a charity ball to remember their Mum and to raise money for the local hospice who cared for her in her final days

A total of £13,895 was raised for St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice and Pancreatic Cancer UK from a charity ball held in memory of a brave woman who lost her fight with cancer.

Over 160 people turned out for the event at Kenwick Park Hotel in Louth on 10th October 2014 as a tribute to Irene Larder, 69, from Market Rasen.

The charity ball was organised by her daughters Diane Bell, 44 and Sharon Yell, 41 who spent a year planning the event.

Diane said: “We were keen to organise the ball because we wanted to give something back for all the wonderful care we had received as a family.

“That was the unique thing about St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice, they didn’t just look after Mum, they looked after the whole family.

“Mum spent three weeks in the hospice and the care Mum received was second to none and best of all they kept her dignity throughout.”

The black tie event included raffles, music, a three course meal and also an auction with donated prizes such as an afternoon at a Premier League football ground, motor racing hospitality and pamper sessions.

Diane’s employers, TSB, are further boosting the total amount raised through their Match Giving initiative.

Sharon said: “This is the first time we have ever planned an event and we were lucky to have the help of our family and friends who gave up their time to support us. They understood how important it was for us to be able to give something back.

“If I’m completely honest in the beginning I didn’t want Mum to come to St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice because I was frightened of what lay behind those doors.

“I soon realised there was no reason to be frightened and the staff there instantly put us all at ease. We soon came to feel very safe at the hospice and very cared for.

“The nurses there were simply wonderful and we started to think of them as our friends. They understood the complex emotions we were experiencing and encouraged us to talk about how we were feeling. They really empathised with what we were going through.”

Irene was admitted into the hospice in November 2011 after being diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer in October 2011.

Diane said: “The onset of the disease was very sudden and Mum deteriorated extremely quickly. It was hard to watch but the Doctors at the hospice took the time to explain to us what was happening and what to expect as Mum’s condition worsened.

“Most importantly they were always very honest with us; we knew exactly what was happening at all times.”

Irene had celebrated her 69th birthday in the hospice before sadly dying on 6th December 2011.

Diane said: “There is nothing quite like St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice. Nothing was ever too much trouble and they cared for Mum with such unbridled depths of compassion.

“For that reason alone we will always support them in any of our fundraising efforts. We just want be able to repay them for their care and kindness.”

Some of last years supporters and their dogs

On Sunday 8th March from 9:30am, St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice will be hosting its 2nd annual Paws 4 a Cause event. The walk will be lead by ‘Imp’ the Golden Retriever and the events mascot.

The walk leaves from Woodcocks at Burton Waters and owners can choose to walk two, four or six miles with their dogs to raise money for St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice.

Ben Petts, Community Events Fundraiser for St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice, said:

“Last year we had such a positive reaction from our local community that we just had to bring Paws 4 a Cause back for a second year. In total we raised £2,000 and we are hoping to top that figure this year.

“Similar sponsored dog walking events are also rolling out across the county so even more members of our community and their furry friends will be able to take part.

“Our Lincoln walk will take our supporters and their companions through picturesque surroundings and it is sure to get those tails wagging.”

The walk will start from Woodcocks at Burton Waters, Burton Lane End, LN1 2BE. Registration is from 9:30am with the walk starting at 10:00am.

Registration is £5.00 per dog and each dog taking part in this event will be given a free doggy-bag to take with them along the walk. Owners can register their dog online at: www.stbarnabashospice.co.uk/paws4

For more information or to have a registration form sent to you please contact Ben Petts on 01522 540300 or email ben.petts@stbarnabashospice.co.uk

Becky Otter, Event Manager for St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice leads the Christmas tree collection service

On Saturday 10th January St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice launched their first Christmas tree collection service in Lincoln. The local charity collected 148 trees and raised a total of £740.

Becky Otter, Event Manager for St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice, said:

“It was a real pleasure to work so closely with our local community and I was delighted by the amount raised from our first ever tree-cycle initiative. This was the first time we have ventured into tree recycling and I am glad that we took the first step.

“We asked each person for a minimum donation of just £5 per tree as this is how much it costs to buy a meal for a patient in our hospice.”

Christmas trees were collected from Lincoln in LN1, LN2, LN3 and parts of LN4, LN5 and LN6. St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice worked in partnership with B & B Tree Specialists who recycled the trees free of charge.

Becky said: “After this years first successful tree-cycle we will definitely be bringing the initiative back for next Christmas. We will hopefully be able to collect even more trees and raise even more money for hospice care.”

This Christmas St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice is launching a brand new Christmas tree collection service. On Saturday 10th January the charity will collect and recycle unwanted tress in return for a small donation of just £5.

Becky Otter, Event Manager for St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice, said:

“We are looking forward to our brand new initiative of collecting tired Christmas trees from across Lincoln. For a suggested donation of just £5 we can collect and recycle your unwanted real Christmas tree. We are asking for £5 because this is how much it costs to buy a meal for a patient in our hospice.”

St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice are working in partnership with B & B Tree Specialists who are recycling all of the trees for free.

Becky said: “We are collecting trees in LN1, LN2, LN3, part of LN4, LN5 and LN6. People can visit our website to see a map of the areas we are collecting and register for their collection. We are encouraging everyone to let the hospice take away the stress and mess of disposing of their trees whilst helping to raise vital funds for the hospice.”

To register your tree for collection visit: www.stbarnabashospice.co.uk/tree-cycle or contact Fundraising on 01522 540 300 or email fundraising@stbarnabashospice.co.uk

 

Becky Otter, Event Fundraiser for St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice accepts a cheque from The Freemasons

Two hundred and forty-two hospices across England & Wales are currently receiving grants from The Freemasons’ Grand Charity totalling £600,000. Since 1984, the Charity has now donated more than £11 million in support of hospices.

Five hospices in the Lincolnshire region have received donations from The Freemasons’ Grand Charity, totalling over £ 9000 this year. Louth & District Hospice, Lindsey Lodge Hospice, Scunthorpe; St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice, St Andrews Hospice, Grimsby and the St Andrews Children’s Hospice, Grimsby.

St Andrews Children’s Hospice has also received a new technology package from the Masonic charity ‘Lifelites’ to help enrich the children’s lives thanks to a further donation of £25,000 from Lincolnshire Freemasons.

Speaking about the donations Graham Ives the Provincial Grand Master for

Lincolnshire said:

“Freemasons in Lincolnshire are thrilled that The Freemasons’ Grand Charity has continued to provide this vital funding for our local hospices. The care, compassion and support they provide to the community is outstanding and we are also delighted that we were able to show our continuing dedication to their cause by means of a further donation from our Provincial funds.”

Financial support is crucial for ensuring a continued high quality service in hospices and every year Freemasons all over the country work together to provide funding for hospice services.

All donations made by The Freemasons’ Grand Charity to hospices are raised by Freemasons and their families; with the aim of assisting hospices in their vital role in helping those affected by terminal or life limiting illness.

Runners are being urged to sign up for a colourful new charity event in Lincolnshire in May.

St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice has teamed up with local events supplier, Running Imp, to host the county’s first ever Colour Dash on Saturday 9th May at the Lincolnshire Showground.

The 5k route will be lined with paint stations which will see runners splattered from head to toe in environmentally friendly powdered paint, with a different colour for each station. Runners will also be given their own paint which they will be able to use during the run.

Becky Otter, Event Manager for St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice, said:

“We are extremely excited to be bringing the Colour Dash to Lincolnshire next year. The run promises to be a fun and vibrant event that is perfect for the whole family to enjoy. This is a real feel-good event that allows us to raise the vital funds we need to continue caring for our local community.”

To take part, participants must be at least five years old, and anyone aged 16 or under must be accompanied by an adult. Registration will open from 5th January, where adults can take advantage of the early bird price of just £15 and £5 for children. Participants can also buy an early bird family ticket (two adults and two children) for just £35. The early bird price is valid until 27th February 2015.

Becky said: “Whether you run to celebrate the life of someone special or you simply want to get involved in something new and exciting, you will struggle to find a more colourful event in our region. We are hoping to see more than 1,000 people join us and cross that finish line in a rainbow of colours for hospice care.”

The registration fee includes a white T-shirt, sunglasses and your own bag of colour.

To register your interest go to: www.stbarnabashospice.co.uk/colourdash