Sales of 'Walney Island Celebration in Verse' donated to St Mary's

We would like to thank Geoffrey Price for donating £284 to St Mary's Hospice. The money was raised from the sale of his book 'Walney Island Celebration in verse'.

St Mary's Supporter to Complete Lakeland Triathlon

On Saturday 14th August, St Mary's supporter Sandra Walbran will take up a Lakeland Triathlon challenge in aid of St Mary's Hospice. The race will be over an Olymic distance, which will include a 1500m open water swim in Bassenthwaite, followed by a 40km bike ride, and a 10km run to finish off.

Sandra commented: "This is the first Olympic distance I have attempted and the first with an open water swim. It's going to be challenging but fun and I am really looking forward to it. It will mean a lot to me to raise money for St Mary's Hospice, who have been a fantastic support to a close personal friend diagnosed with a terminal illness. I will be thinking about Matt all of the way round the event - he will be my inspiration when it gets tough. Hospices like St Mary's are fundamental in our communities and provide wonderful support and help to those in most need."

There could be up to 300 competitors on the day, so we wish Sandra the very best of luck!

Pictured: Sandra Walbran

Thank you to Ulverston Sports & Recreation Association

We would like to thank Ulverston Sports & Recreation Association for raising an amazing £441 for St Mary's. The club also kindly donated brand new sets of mugs for our inpatient unit. This extremely kind gesture is greatly appreciated.

Pictured: Chairman of Ulverston Sports & Recreation Association presenting cheque to St Mary's Fundraiser Hannah Hillen.

St Mary's receives £700 in memory

We would like to thank all of those who gave in memory of Ruth Dixon, who was cared for at St Mary's Hospice.

Pictured: John Dixon, Lizzie Brough, baby Finley Longmire, Joyce Warner, Karen Caine, John Warner, St Mary's nurses Sue McDougal & Angie Irwin.

For further information about giving in memory, please click here.

Charlie cycles from Lincolnshire to Paris to raise funds

Cyclist enthusiast Charlie Raine will be taking up the challenge of riding to Paris, while raising funds for St Mary's Hospice.

Charlie and his father, along with 17 other riders, will leave Market Rasen, Lincolnshire on Friday 30th May and will cycle 38 miles to Hull. There, they will catch a Ferry and travel overnight to Zeebrugge, Belgium, where they will cycle a further 82 miles to Arras, France. On the final day they will complete a 115 mile cycle to Paris.

Last October Charlie cycled a 115 mile coast to coast route, from Walney Island to Whitby and raised £170 for the charity. Charlie commented: " I chose to raise money for St Mary’s because of the care my Grandma, Celia Raine, received during her illness."

St Mary's wishes Charlie the best of luck with his challenge!

Do you fancy a fun and exciting challenge with the added bonus of making a difference at the same time? There are hundreds of enjoyable ways to help raise funds for St Mary's! If you would like to see your innovative idea come to life please email events@stmaryshospice.org.uk or call our Fundraising Team on 01229 580305.

Mayor Dorothy Proves to be a Fund-Raising Wizard!

With Andrew Lloyd Webber close to finding a new star for The Wizard of Oz this weekend, another Dorothy has left centre stage.

And outgoing Mayor of Barrow, Councillor Dorothy Dawes, went out in style – handing out nearly £7,000 to charities and organisations.

The money was raised at a series of mayoral charity fund-raising events over the year, including a Christmas coffee morning at the Town Hall and fun day at the Dock Museum.

Cllr Dawes told the Evening Mail of the special reasons for choosing her three main charities – and gave £1,500 each to Barrow RNLI, St Mary’s Hospice and North West Air Ambulance.

She said she was a member of the Lifeboat Ladies Guild; the hospice helped her following the death of her husband Eric a few years ago; and the air ambulance helped save the life of a friend’s husband following a serious road accident.

After handing out the cheques in the Mayor’s Parlour, Cllr Dawes formally handed over the reins at the council’s annual meeting.

Council leader Councillor Jack Richardson said: “Dorothy has conducted the office with a mixture of dignity and humility but also shown she can be firm on occasions. She has attended events right across the north west and been a credit to the borough. We wish her well in the future.”

Cllr Dawes, 75, who is continuing as a councillor, said she had enjoyed her time as mayor although it had left her extremely tired. She particularly thanked the three girls in her office, Mandy Pollard, Emma O’Sullivan and Karen Singleton, driver Paul West and her Mayoress Kay Hollis.

The total donated was £6,850, distributed to: North West Air Ambulance, £1,500; Barrow Lifeboat, £1,500; St Mary’s Hospice, £1,500; Duddon Inshore Rescue, £250; Barrow Sea Cadets, £250; Barrow Army Cadets, £250; Barrow Air Cadets, £250; South Cumbria Girl Guides, £300; Barrow Scouts, £300; The Brennan Rooney Appeal, £250; Walney First Responders, £250; Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment £250.

Article by Graham Dixon
Published by www.nwemail.co.uk

A Walk to Remember 2010

Walk to Remember 2010

Nearly 800 women came together to raise an estimated £60,000 during the fourth annual St Mary’s Hospice Walk to Remember.

On Friday 14th May 2010, the 797 women who took part formed a pink parade and strode into the darkness together, singing, laughing and chatting as they went. Whether it was their first time or their fourth, every woman who tackled the 11km (seven-and-a-half-mile) sponsored walk looked to be having a fantastic time.

Karen Crawford, 41, of Walney, walks with the same group of friends every year. She said: “We have been doing it for the last three years now, and we think it’s a great cause. It’s a really good atmosphere, a great feeling of camaraderie.”

Andrea Gardiner, 37, of Parkside, Barrow, was one of Mrs Crawford's fellow walkers. She said: “The first year it started, my mum died a few weeks before, and my sister also works at the hospice so we always support it. It’s nice to see all these women coming together.”

Jane Coles, of Rampside, Barrow said: “The atmosphere was really good, and to see so many people who are obviously walking for someone that they have lost was very moving. I’d say we’ll be doing it again next year.”

This year’s event started at Asda car park in Walney Road, Barrow, just after 10pm. Walkers enjoyed a brisk warm-up, before Barrow Raiders’ Brett McDermott and Barrow deputy mayor Rory McClure set the ladies off on their way. From there it was up and away past the Holker Street football ground and up Cemetry Hill towards Thorncliffe Road.

As far as the eye could see, a swarm of matching pink t-shirts flashing bunny ears, deely-boppers and crowns wove through the streets of Barrow, as groups of friends, family and colleagues tackled the two-to-three-hour walk together. It was a sight not to be missed, and as drivers and passers-by beeped their horns and craned their necks to take a closer look, the men of Barrow turned out to do their bit for the cause. Despite not being able to take part in the women-only walk, dads, uncles, brothers, husbands and boyfriends took to the streets to show their support as their loved-ones marched past. It was an event that brought Barrow together, as every person involved pushed themselves to raise as much as they could for the hospice.

A Walk To Remember is St Mary’s largest annual fundraiser, and the cash made through sponsorship of those taking part goes a long way towards the £2m the hospice must raise every year to provide its services to the community.
This year, organisers estimate money raised by the event will add £60,000 to this target.

Zoe Guest, fundraising and operations manager at St Mary’s Hospice, said: “It was fantastic, I think it was the best one we’ve ever done. It was great to have so many people taking part, everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves, and to raise such an amazing amount is absolutely fantastic. Everyone’s got their own personal reason for taking part. There are a lot of people who take part who are related to someone we have looked after, and a lot of times, ladies walk in groups together. Some come back every year. We’d like to thank Asda Barrow, the BAE first aiders and all the volunteers who worked hard beforehand and on the evening to make the event possible.”

You can watch a short video clip of the Walk to Remember 2010 here.

With thanks to North West Evening Mail for article and video.