Category: Fundraising

Paper Moon Day Nurseries raise £2,156.51 for St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice as their Operations Manager battles cancer

Youngsters and staff from Midlands based Paper Moon Day Nurseries have been raising money for St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice in honour of their Operations Manager Dee Mansell.

Dee, aged 54, from Glentham underwent a double mastectomy in May 2011 after being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2010. Dee was given the all clear after undergoing an aggressive course of chemotherapy which saw her lose her hair, eyelashes and nails.

However, in January 2013, Dee was tragically diagnosed with lung cancer.

Dee said: “I had gone to the doctors because a pea-sized lump had appeared on my neck. I didn’t think the lump would be anything sinister but a CT scan showed the lump to be cancerous and that the cancer had spread to my lungs.

“This time round I am taking a trial drug and the side effects are both severe and debilitating. The medication makes me nauseous and sick and I have lost over three-and-a-half stone as a result.”

Dee explains: “St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice have provided real support at a time when I have needed it the most. The Day Therapy Centre in Gainsborough has provided me with access to Indian head massage, Reiki and relaxation techniques which has helped me to combat my restlessness. In addition to complimentary therapies I have also relished the social support the centre provides as I am able to talk with other people who are in similar circumstances to my own.”

After learning about their colleague’s battles with cancer, staff from Paper Moon Nurseries decided to show their support, by raising money for St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice, whose services Dee regularly accesses.

Each of the six Paper Moon Nurseries got involved to collectively raise £2,156.51 through a host of fundraising events; from sponsored walks to fun days held in each of the nurseries.

The Paper Moon Nursery based on Boultham Park Road in Lincoln raised £1,082 alone through their ‘Dee’s Day’ fundraiser held on 13th April 2013.

Emma Gray, Nursery Manager for Paper Moon Nursery at Boultham Park, said:

“I have known Dee for 16 years and so hearing about her struggles with cancer was difficult but I wanted to do something to show Dee how much we all cared. ‘Dee’s Day’ was a pink themed fundraiser, the staff wore pink ‘Dee’s Day’ T-Shirts, there was an entirely pink raffle and children’s favourite Peppa Pig made an appearance.

“The day was attended by the children and supported by many of the parents. Dee and her family came along despite Dee being very poorly at the time. The day ended beautifully when we all gathered together to release pink balloons emblazoned with names of lost loved ones.”

Dee concludes: “It was really touching to hear about all the wonderful events that Paper Moon were putting on in my honour and to raise money for St Barnabas, who have really helped me during this difficult time. Sometimes you hear the word ‘hospice’ and it can be quite a frightening thought but actually the place is far from frightening and is in fact warm and welcoming.

The Day Therapy centre I attend is a real life line to me and so many others but it is funded entirely through charitable donations. Therefore fundraising events, like the ones Paper Moon put on, really are vital to ensuring that the care and services St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice provides, can continue.”

St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice hosts its 7th Annual Ladies Ball this year we’re going down the rabbit hole

On Saturday, 3rd May from 7:30pm – 1am, St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice will be hosting the fifth annual Lipstick and Champagne event at the Bentley Hotel in Lincoln – an evening filled with food, wine and dancing with the theme being Alice in Wonderland.

There will be a live set from returning band Gradschool with their classic mix of stomping beats from Outkast to Oasis. Entertainment will also include a live DJ and a disco. Guests can indulge on a three course meal which is included in the ticket price.

Becky Otter Events Fundraiser for St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice said:

“This is a chance for ladies to get dressed up and have a fun night out dancing till the early hours. Gradschool are coming back after the rave reviews last year and I would like to think that this event will give ladies a chance to let their hair down before World Cup mania takes over.”

On the night there will be a competition looking for the person who arrives in the maddest hat. There will also be a prize for the winner on the night.

Guests are encouraged to book together so that they can be sat together on a table of ten. Tickets for this event are £35.00 which includes a three course meal and live entertainment on the night. The dress code is cocktail dress/ball gown and tickets can be purchased through the St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice website www.stbarnabashospice.co.uk or contact the fundraising office on 01522 540300.

Becky concludes: “Last years event raised £4,305 which is a fantastic amount for hospice care across the county. This year we hope to beat that and raise £5,000 for patients and their families across Lincolnshire.”

Lost Souls have teamed up with St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice to showcase a night of local live music

On Saturday 26th April from 7 pm – midnight, at the Platform, Engine shed, St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice will be hosting ‘Lost Souls and Friends – A night for St Barnabas.

Lost Souls are a 5 piece electro rock n roll band from Lincoln City, who formed in January 2009.

“Their sound is unique in the true sense of the word. Fusing a traditional Brit-rock sound with elements of electronica to create a sound no one has heard on a national scale, let alone a local one.”

— BBC Introducing

Kicking off the night is ‘Pheasants and Their Enemies’ a Lincoln based duo aiming to bring English Country/Folk to the mainstream with their unique take on the modern twenty-something’s life. Lost Souls are stripping it back and performing a special acoustic set. Making their live debut is The Percussion Guns – a fresh NEW rock n roll band and headlining is the awesome band ‘recruiT. Their passion is to create music that will make people sing and dance.

Michael McKiernan, song writer and base player from Lost Souls said:

“The reason I wanted to get involved in helping to raise funds for the hospice is due to being personally touched by the great work they do. My best friend Craig Frayne’s mother Trish was cared for by the hospice in her final weeks in December 2013”

Michael concludes: “Trish’s daughter Claire Frayne approached me on behalf of Lost Souls to see if we would arrange an event in memory of Trish and the many helped by the hospice. This is the perfect way to say thank you and help raise some funds towards the care the hospice provide”

Becky otter, Events Fundraiser for St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice, said:

“I was delighted when old friends Michael McKiernan and Andy Brown approached me about the event. Whether it’s thousands of people in Wembley Stadium for Live Aid or a few dozen in the back room of your local pub, music and charity have always gone hand-in-hand.

“There’s so much musical talent in Lincoln, I am really looking forward to watching all the bands on the bill. Claire Frayne has been donated a 3D 47 inch LG TV from Knowhow which will be auctioned on the night and a mini iPad can also be won in the raffle. We are hoping to raise £2,500 at the event.”

Limited tickets are available. For information on please contact Becky Otter on 01522 559 516 or email her at becky.otter@stbarnabashospice.co.uk

Representatives from Branston Ltd, Western Power Distribution, G4S and Lincs FM wear their onesies at Lincoln’s Day Therapy Centre

Branston Ltd and Western Power Distribution have pledged their support for ‘One Night in a Onesie’.

Branston Ltd and Western Power Distribution have been named as joint title sponsors for St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice’s Moonlight Sleepwalk, which is this year themed ‘One Night in a Onesie’. The eighth annual walk takes place on Saturday 7th June 2014 at Lincoln, Boston, Grantham and Louth.

Last year, 1,000 people took part in the annual late-night walks across the county and together raised over £55,000. This year, St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice is hoping to attract 1,300 participants to help raise £80,000.

Branston Ltd is one of the UK’s largest buyers and growers of potatoes; they are supporting the charity fundraiser after naming St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice as one of their charities of the year for 2014, after a staff vote put the local hospice top.

Simon Telfer, Human Resources Director for Branston Ltd, said:

“St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice is a fantastic local cause who we are very proud to be raising money for. We are all really excited about getting behind some great fund raising initiatives and really hope that the money we raise will make a difference to the great services that this charity provides.”

Western Power Distribution is the electricity distribution network operator for the Midlands, South West and Wales; they are active supporters of St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice and headlined last years Moonlight Sleepwalk.

Mark Hutchinson, Distribution Manager for North Lincolnshire, said:

“We are overjoyed to be helping such a worthwhile charity who provides wonderful care and support within our community. We are looking forward to helping St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice achieve their fundraising target of £80,000 and a team from Western Power Distribution will be taking part on the night! This is the perfect opportunity for us to support the people of Lincolnshire.”

Additional corporate support is also being received from Brakes, The Co-op, The Shakespeare Publican, Pearson Hydraulics, G4S and Ruddocks. Lincolnshire’s independent radio station Lincs FM has also come on-board as the media partner for the event.

Veronica Brien, Fundraising Manager for St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice said:

“St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice is absolutely delighted to welcome Branston and Western Power as our joint headline sponsors for ‘One Night in a Onesie’ and we are astounded by the support of our other corporate supporters. Without the support and assistance from these companies, we simply would not be able to host charity fundraising events on the same scale as ‘One Night in a Onesie’.

“Without these fundraising events we could not continue to provide the same level of specialist care to the people of Lincolnshire, who are battling life-limiting illnesses. The support we are receiving from all of our sponsors will ensure that ‘One Night in a Onesie’ will be a night not to be missed.”

Early registration is encouraged to take advantage of the early bird adult registration fee of just £10. Participants can register at www.stbarnabashospice.co.uk

From left to right: Val Capes, Vice Chairman from Crowland Cancer Fund and Vikki Allen, Community Fundraiser for St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice

St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice receive £10,000 donation from volunteer led community group Crowland Cancer Fund

On Friday 21st March, St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice was presented with a cheque for £10,000, from the Crowland Cancer Fund. The cheque was presented at the Fund’s annual presentation evening and was accepted by Vikki Allen, the Community Fundraiser for St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice.

Vikki Allen who has worked for the Lincolnshire based charity for over 8 years expressed her surprise at the generous donation.

“I had no idea how much the Crowland Cancer Fund were donating to us until the evening of the presentation” explained Vikki. “When they read out £10,000 I was in complete shock! I stumbled through my speech which I had written earlier in the day and tried in vein to express my sincerest gratitude. I was left completely speechless.”

St Barnabas Hospice is Lincolnshire’s leading specialist palliative care and end of life provider. The county-wide charity cares for over 5,800 people a year who are living with a life-limiting illness.

Vikki said: “This fantastic donation will help to support our nursing staff and enable them to make vital home visits to our patients who wish to be cared for in their own homes. Our expert services ensure patients receive high quality palliative care and provide support and comfort to their families and loved ones at a very difficult time. My thanks must once again go to all those involved with Crowland Cancer Fund and for their outstanding determination in raising this money.”

The Crowland Cancer Fund has been in operation for 24 years and has raised more than £500,000 in that time. The small community group is run entirely by volunteers and have a charity shop in EastStreet, Crowland, selling bric-a-brac and donated goods. The fund also runs a warehouse selling furniture and white goods in Crease Drove, Crowland and has a van that will collect and deliver goods.

Val Capes, Vice Chairman for Crowland Cancer Fund, said:

“We are just so pleased to be able to support St. Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice and all the good work they do in our local community. We are delighted to be able to present them with a cheque for £10,000 and hope this will enable them to continue to provide their vital services and care.”

From left to right: Manager, Hannah Benson and salon owner, Helen Ward

St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice receives support for their Top to Toe vintage evening from Lincoln based hairdressers The strand

The Strand, on Clasketgate in Lincoln, will be teaming up with St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice at their second annual ‘Top to Toe’ vintage evening. The shopping showcase will be held at the Lincolnshire showground on Thursday 24th April and will feature stalls of vintage clothing, shoes and accessories.

To provide the full ‘Top to Toe’ vintage look The Strand will be hosting a pop-up beauty shop to offer vintage inspired hair styling for a minimum donation of just £4. Visitors will be offered tutorials so they can recreate the vintage looks at home and stylists will also be on hand to offer general hair care advice.

Salon owner, Helen Ward, said:

“We were part of the ‘Top to Toe’ vintage event last year and we enjoyed the experience so much we couldn’t wait to sign up again! We are delighted to be able to continue our commitment to supporting the vital services that St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice provides to our community.

“They provide invaluable care and services to people who are seriously ill and battling a life-limiting illness and we are proud to be able to lend our skills and expertise to help raise as much money as possible.”

The Strand has been a prominent name in hairdressing for over 13 years and has trained Wella and TIGI stylists. A selection of vintage inspired hair accessories will also be available to buy from the pop-up shop with all proceeds being donated to St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice.

Becky Otter, Events Fundraiser for St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice, said:

“We are so grateful to The Strand for their continued support of St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice and that they have chosen to support us again at this year’s event. Their efforts will help to raise vital funds we need in order to continue to provide our services to the Lincolnshire community.

“Last year we had over 200 guests join us at the event and this year we anticipate an even bigger turn out. Top to Toe vintage is the perfect occasion for a girl’s night out! Guests can style themselves in all things vintage, have fun with their friends and shop and swap all evening.”

The ‘Top to Toe’ vintage evening is held in the Epic Centre at the Lincolnshire Showground on Thursday 21st April from 7pm – 10pm. Tickets are priced at the early bird rate of £8 and can be purchased online at www.stbarnabashospice.co.uk. Tickets can also be bought on the door on the night of the event and will be charged at the standard rate of £10.

The winners of Strictly Ballroom 2014; Lee Johnson and Laura Franklin

The glitz and glamour of Strictly Ballroom proves to be a huge success for St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice

On Sunday 23rd March, St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice hosted ‘Strictly Ballroom’, a sell-out Lincoln version of the popular BBC 1 show. In its triumphant return the fourth annual fundraiser raised £11,800 from the sale of tickets, sponsorship and donations.

The 3 hour show, held at the Lincoln Performing Arts Centre, saw 21 couples take to the stage to perform the Waltz and the Rumba, in front of a sold out crowd of over 440 people. The ‘Strictly Ballroom’ trophy was hotly contested before Laura Franklin and Lee Johnson waltzed their way into first place to be crowned the winners of Strictly Ballroom 2014.

Laura Franklin, winner of Strictly Ballroom 2014, said:

“We are both in total shock to have won Strictly Ballroom 2014. Myself and Lee decided to take part because the hospice looked after my Grandad when he had cancer, for that reason, the hospice is very close to my heart. We have thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience and we hope even more money can be raised next year for such a great cause”

The winners were chosen by a combination of an audience vote and scoring by a judging panel, which consisted of; Aggi Doughty, winner of Strictly Ballroom in 2011 and 2012, John Armitage, winner of Strictly Ballroom 2011 and Karen and Colin Brewer, dance teachers from local KCB dance school.

Becky Otter, Events Fundraiser for St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice, said:

“I am overwhelmed by the outpouring of support and generosity the Lincolnshire community have shown us. They have helped to make this year’s Strictly Ballroom the most successful in our history.

“Firstly I would like to congratulate our very talented winners Laura and Lee; they really did perform brilliantly tonight. I would also like to express my sincerest gratitude to all of the participants. They have spent the last 10 weeks sweating it out in dance rehearsals and have worked extremely hard to put on such a wonderful show.”

Money raised through ‘Strictly Ballroom’ allows St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice to provide care and support to people who are seriously ill and battling a life-limiting illness via bespoke care packages that ensure families can make the most of every second they share together.

Becky concludes: “Every penny raised from events like Strictly Ballroom is gratefully received; it ensures that we can continue to care for those people within our community who need it the most.”

Now in its 4th year the ballroom dance competition makes its triumphant return to Lincoln

On Sunday 23rd March, from 6.30pm, St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice will host their 4th annual Strictly Ballroom finale. Held at the Lincoln Performing Arts Centre, the event has proved to be as popular as its BBC namesake, selling all 444 seats 4 weeks prior to the show finale.

Over the past 10 weeks, 21 couples have been learning two ballroom dances; the Rumba and the Waltz. Contestants will compete on stage in front of a live audience and a judging panel consisting of; Aggi Doughty, winner of Strictly Ballroom in 2011 and 2012 and Karen and Colin Brewer, dance teachers from KCB dance school.

“The event this year has been a run away success from the very beginning” said Becky Otter, Events Fundraiser for St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice. “Contestants eagerly signed up from across the entire county and the tickets have sold faster then we could process them! From sales of tickets and sponsorship we are hoping to raise in excess of £10,000 from this event.”

Anxiously anticipating the shows finale, the contestants all have very individual reasons for signing up to the charity fundraiser.

Amy Tweedale, aged 27, from Lincoln, said: “My brother and I are taking part in memory of our mum who passed away to Ovarian Cancer four years ago. The hospice did an amazing job of caring, not only for my mum, but for the whole family. Competing in this event has made me realise how much I enjoy dancing and I intend to continue after the show.”

Maria Hodgkins, aged 43, from Witham St Hughs, said: “This is a great charity that needs our support! This is our 2nd year taking part in Strictly Ballroom and it was trickier than expected. We thought a Waltz would be easy to learn, we couldn’t have been more wrong!”

Mark Doughty, aged 38, from Lincoln, said: “The reason I’m taking part is to raise money for a fantastic charity and in memory of my Grandad who was cared for by St Barnabas, and to do something a bit different.”

The audience will cast their vote for their favourite pair, and this will then be added to the judge’s scores, before the winners of Strictly Ballroom 2014 can be crowned.

Becky Otter credits the success of Strictly Ballroom to its universal appeal and family friendly focus.

“What I love about Strictly Ballroom is that it appeals to people of all ages, this year we have a 13 year-old boy competing with his Mother and a couple in their sixty’s. The rigorous dance rehearsals have demanded hard work and commitment from the contestants which will ensure an entertaining evening to be enjoyed by the whole family.”

A limited number of tickets may become available before the finale. To join the waiting list for this event, contact fundraising on: 01522 540 300. Adult tickets are priced at £10 and children tickets at £5.

The arts and crafts fair at Branston Hall Hotel

St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice invites Lincolnshire families to join them in Easter themed fun

On Sunday 13th April, from 10am – 4pm, St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice is hosting their 7th annual Easter Craft Fair at Branston Hall hotel. The annual event will feature stalls from local crafters, Easter egg hunts and a sponsored bunny hop along with ongoing children’s activities throughout the day.

There will be an indoor and outdoor arts and craft fair showcasing local crafters and their beautiful handmade items. The many exhibitors include – but are not limited to – Forever Living Aloe Vera, Gemini Designs, Sara Royle and J and J Alpacas. Visitors can discover bespoke items from stalls featuring health and beauty products, knitwear and wrought iron pieces.

“Now in its 7th year, our annual Easter Craft Fair is as popular as ever” said Becky Otter, Events Fundraiser for St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice. “Last year over 300 people came along to enjoy our Easter themed activities and this year we are anticipating an even bigger turn out! Set within 88 acres of stunning parkland and lakes, Branston Hall Hotel provides the perfect backdrop, for a fun filled day, for all ages.”

Throughout the day there will be fun children’s activities such as Easter egg hunts, an egg and spoon race and a crafting competition judged by special guest Barnabas bear. There will also be homemade cakes and refreshments, face-painting, bumper chocolate tombola and a bouncy castle for visitors on the day.

A half mile sponsored bunny hop will take place around the lake with an Easter themed quiz to complete along the course. Children are given flashing bunny ears at the start and are welcomed across the finish line with a special chocolate treat. Registration for the bunny hop is now open and is charged at £5 per child with minimum sponsorship of £10 per family.

Children’s activities are timetabled throughout the day;

10am – 3pm Easter egg hunts

11am Sponsored bunny hop

12pm – 3pm Arts and crafts activities

2pm Egg and spoon race

Admission to the fun filled family day is just 50p per adult which includes one free entry into the prize draw to win Sunday lunch for two at Branston Hall Hotel. Children up to 17 years old are admitted for free and free parking is also available within the grounds of Branston Hall Hotel.

Becky concludes: “Funds raised from our Easter Craft Fair will help to boost our annual fundraising target of £3.4 million. This is the figure we must raise to ensure that St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice can continue to provide specialist care and support to patients and their families via or inpatient unit, day therapy centres and welfare support.”

Register for the bunny hop online at:www.stbarnabashospice.co.uk

Singers from all over Lincolnshire will join the Salisbury Community Choir to perform Will Todd’s ‘The City Garden’

Over 250 singers and musicians will come together to perform ‘The City Garden’ at Lincoln Cathedral on Saturday 3rd May 2014. Award winning choirs Scunthorpe Junior Choir and the Choirs of Lincoln Minster School will join the Salisbury Community Choir under the direction of Jeremy Backhouse, one of Britain’s leading choral conductors.

‘The City Garden’ is a cantata commissioned by Salisbury Community Choir to celebrate their 21st birthday. The piece was composed by Will Todd, one of Britain’s finest young composers, who was responsible for ‘The Call of Wisdom’ which featured in the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Thanksgiving Service.

“‘The City Garden’ takes the listener on a romantic journey through the seasons with different moods, temperatures and weather supplying the light and shade” explained Helen Atkinson, from Salisbury Community Choir. “It combines a foot-tapping mix of jazz and gospel with unforgettable melodies and lyrics, and links the four seasons and the human journey from Adam’s fall to man’s redemption; it is a moving and spiritual work on many levels. It’s a wonderful piece to sing and is a vibrant, emotional and arresting piece to listen to”

Formed in 1993, Salisbury Community Choir has in excess of 150 members, and has a real community focus, having raised in excess of £100,000 for a range of charities. For their Lincoln Cathedral performance Salisbury Community Choir will be donating all proceeds to Lincoln’s local charity St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice.

“We are delighted to be working with St Barnabas, they are an inspiring organisation and deliver an exceptional service and we hope that the people of Lincoln come and support the concert. It will be a fantastic evening and every seat that we sell will make a real difference to the amount we raise” said Helen Atkinson

St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice, Events Fundraiser, Becky Otter said:

“We are delighted to have been chosen by Salisbury Community Choir as their dedicated charity for their Lincoln performance. The night is sure to be a feast for the senses with the stunning architecture of the Cathedral coupled with the spectacular sounds from the choir and live orchestra.”

Becky Otter concludes: “As an organisation we provide end of life support to patients and their families via our in-patient hospice, day therapy centres and bereavement groups. This year we must raise £3.4million in order to continue to provide our care and services free of charge.”

Seating is sectioned and tickets are priced at £10, £15, £20. Tickets for the event can be purchased at selected St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice shops or from www.stbarnabashospice.co.uk and the Cathedral Box Office. For further information contact St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice fundraising office on 01522 540 300.

For information on ‘The City Garden’ visit www.thecitygarden.org.uk