August 2021 - East Cheshire Hospice

Drive in Cinema

Watch cinema classics in the shadow of Capesthorne Hall in the comfort of your own car. The invitation comes from East Cheshire Hospice which has announced its first Drive-In Cinema on Sunday, October 17.

Gates open at 6 pm with family fun film Moana on screen from 6.30 pm. The next arrival time is between 9  pm and 9:15 pm for another box office favourite Dirty Dancing, the 80s classic starting at 9.30 pm.

Amazingly, it will the Hospice’s first fundraising event for two years because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Its last event was a Tough Woofer 5K obstacle course in October 2019, also at Capesthorne Hall.

Aiming for a box office hit with a Drive-In Cinema….East Cheshire Hospice Events Manager Beth Candy (left) and Challenge and Events Co-ordinator Bethan Wade.

Marketing Manager Luke Brightmore said: “It’s hard to believe we’ve been away for so long with an  event organised by the Hospice, but as everyone is aware restrictions have prevented us from staging mass participation gatherings. “We’ve two terrific film choices and guests can feel the ocean calling or put on those dancing shoes for an evening of entertainment, all from the safety and comfort of their own vehicle.”

Tickets are £25 per car for one film or £35 for both.  Pizzas from Pizza Principle, popcorn and candy floss will be available and cinema goers can also bring their own snacks and drinks.

Social distancing measures will be in place. Queues for food and drinks will be marked out with at least one metre spacing and hand sanitising stations will be available. Parking marshals will ensure plenty of space between each car.

To book tickets and find out more information about the event, visit the Hospice’s website www.eastcheshirehospice.org.uk/event/drive-in-cinema

Bargain furniture – helping fund patient care at East Cheshire Hospice

Bargain furniture is helping fund patient care at East Cheshire Hospice.

The Hospice generates around £10,000 a month from selling recycled furniture generously donated by the public.

The scheme is so popular the Hospice is now appealing for even more offers of unwanted furniture items. The goods are on display at the Hospice’s Thornton Square shop in Macclesfield, and its shops in Handforth and Poynton.

Furniture is often snapped up by bargain hunters as soon as it appears in stores and is advertised on the shops’ Facebook pages and Facebook Marketplace. The only condition for accepting furniture is that it is clean and sellable and has no scratches, unless of antique value.

Left, Lindsay McDonald, assistant manager at the East Cheshire Hospice shop at Thornton Square, with commercial manager Louise Delany

Commercial Manager Louise Delany said: “Furniture gets sold almost immediately and is extremely profitable for us. “That revenue is vital to allow us to provide care for our patients, their families and carers free of charge.”

“It costs £7,500 a day to run the Hospice, so the furniture revenue alone pays for well over a day’s care each month.” “We want to thank our donors for thinking of the Hospice when they’re replacing furniture and our message is that if more people have goods they want to donate, then we’re more than happy to take items from them.”

“Customers are delighted when they upcycle something because it saves the environment, saves money and also supports the Hospice at a time when we urgently need help, especially as our income fell during the pandemic.”

Hospice furniture co-ordinator Michele Slack can be contacted on 01625 409647 to arrange collections, or visit www.eastcheshirehospice.org.uk/furniture furniture donation page. Furniture sales can be made over the telephone. Volunteer van drivers collect and deliver furniture six days a week. Collections are free, with a £25 fee for deliveries.

Louise said: “We have a mix of retro and modern furniture and anything made of pine is always popular. Our van will go to anywhere the Hospice serves which is a wide area.

The charity’s ECHO shop in Poynton, which opened almost a year ago, has been a huge success generally and now has an antique corner and sells retro bric-a-brac. Louise said: “We’d love to have ornaments with some age to them. It doesn’t have to be antique.”

Cake Stall Fundraiser

Judy Kelly was a proud grandma when Milly and Eve Farrer set up a cake stall outside her home. The girls raised £217 for East Cheshire Hospice where Judy has been a volunteer for almost 21 years.

Eve (left) and Milly present a cheque to Hospice community fundraiser Carley Macey.

Her granddaughters were on a week-long visit from their Birmingham home during the school holidays when they decided to help the Hospice.

Milly (10) baked cakes, while 14-year-old Eve organised a raffle with 20 prizes which raised £73 towards the total.

Judy said: “Milly loves cooking and has her own recipe book of cakes she makes.  Friends and neighbours were so generous and kept coming forward with raffle prizes.

Milly (left) and Eve at the cake stall outside their grandma’s home.

“We were amazed by the success of the afternoon and the girls were so pleased. It was a bit worrying because Milly had made a lot of cakes and I thought what if no-one comes, but we sold them all in two hours.

“Milly had posted flyers and the next day wrote thank you notes to all friends and neighbours who had supported them.”

Judy is soon hoping to return to her long-serving voluntary role on the Hospice reception. Covid-19 also prevented her and fellow volunteers from helping display flowers on the ward, a role she has done for 10 years.

She said: “Not being able to volunteer has been awful and I’ve hated it. During that time I have, though, been fundraising by painting greetings cards and selling them to friends, donating the proceeds to the Hospice.”

Adlington Afternoon Tea

It is not too late to enjoy a traditional afternoon tea in the beautiful surroundings of Adlington Hall. Volunteers from East Cheshire Hospice are providing hot drinks and homemade cakes between 2 pm and 5 pm each Sunday during August.

All proceeds are donated to the charity which accepted an invitation from Adlington Hall to use its traditional tearoom in the main building to raise funds. Guests do not need to book teas and if they want can also pay to stroll through the hall and picturesque gardens at one of England’s finest country homes.

The 2,000-acre estate has been the ancestral home of the Legh family for more than seven centuries and Camilla Legh is a Hospice vice president. The Hospice, which also has a stall selling handmade goods, is holding its memory walk at Adlington Hall on March 25 next year. The first afternoon tea attracted around 50 guests and raised £306 for the Hospice.

From left, volunteers Jane Wilson, Angela Raval and Susan Cleary at Adlington Hall.

Community Fundraiser Carley Macey said: “We’re really excited to be back out in the community raising vital funds for the care we provide. “It’s been a difficult year, as it has been for many people, and the fantastic support from our community has got us though. “We want to thank Adlington Hall for inviting us to use their tearoom which enables us to spread awareness about our services. “We hope everyone who attends enjoys the amazing homemade cakes lovingly made by our volunteers and want to thank guests for supporting your local hospice.”

For more information visit www.adlingtonhall.com/visit-us  Adlington Hall houses The Great Organ, arguably one of the country’s most important 17th century musical instruments.

The Hospice’s Macclesfield support group held a coffee morning at Gawsworth Methodist Church.

Meanwhile, the Hospice is on the lookout for community volunteers for a number of roles, including joining a support group.

Carley said: “We’re always looking for volunteers to help with community fundraising and we have support groups across our catchment area. “These are sociable welcoming groups  and we also have other roles such as volunteer cake bakers, collection box monitors and community event volunteers for things like event and market stalls.”

For more details email fundraising@echospice.org.uk or visit www.eastcheshirehospice.org.uk/support/volunteer-with-us/

Macc Open Art Exhibition Returns

The online Macclesfield Open Art Exhibition returns in September and October in aid of East Cheshire Hospice.

The exhibition was revived last year by organiser Geoff Archer and featured work by 236 artists who submitted 651 works, all of which were displayed.

Geoff Archer with one of his paintings Pick Up

Geoff, a painter and former head of art at Henbury High School, said: “Last year’s event was meant to be a one-off, assuming things would be back to normal by now. However, the postponement of Art Fair Cheshire which raises a lot of money for the Hospice, and the consequent loss of funds, convinced me that another Open would be worth doing.

“Last year’s exhibition was a great success and we raised a few thousand pounds for the Hospice. We hope to do at least as well this year.”

Instead of an entry fee, artists make donations to the Hospice and with most works for sale, those who sell are also asked to make a contribution to the charity in lieu of usual commission.

Geoff said: “The exhibition is open to all artists, amateur or professional and there’s no age limit. “Artists are allowed to submit a maximum of three works. Usually there’s a selection process at galleries because of a lack of space to hang items, but like last year everything submitted will be shown.”

Visit maccopen.org.uk for information about submitting work where there is a link to the charity’s website for donations. The public can view exhibits at that website when the exhibition starts.

Daring Double Wing Walk

Thrill seeker Andrew Hine admits roller coasters will never quite be the same again after a daring wing walk. The father-of-two even went up in the air twice so he could perform loop- the-loops on his second attempt. He joined other daredevils at an airfield in Gloucestershire, all of them raising funds for East Cheshire Hospice. The flights were on top of a classic 1940s Boeing Stearman biplane. Andrew, from Upton Priory, honoured the memory of grandfather Norman Wilcox who died in the Hospice in 1995.

Andrew Hine ready for his wing walk adventure.

Andrew, a support worker for adults with learning difficulties, said: “I’ve never experienced anything like it before and the days of Alton Towers and Blackpool Pleasure Beach might not be quite as exciting any more.

“I know it was a once in a lifetime opportunity, but when I saw they only do upside down from a second wing walk I couldn’t resist. “I’ve not been spending a lot of money during lockdown so thought I’d treat myself and it was a fun thing to do and a great adrenalin rush. “The pilot managed to do a few aerobatic manoeuvres, including a couple of stall turns and two loop-the-loops. It was a brilliant day. “The most daring thing I’d done was a sky dive 15 years ago and to some it would have looked terrifying and the worst thing you can possibly imagine, but for me it was exciting.”

Wife Lahdan was there to witness Andrew’s aerial acrobatics. To sponsor him visit justgiving.com/fundraising/andrewhine

Other high flyers included seven members of the Hospice staff. Health care assistants Joanne Helm, Jill Harding, Caroline Allen and Pam Webster were joined by complementary therapist Gill Black, staff nurse Laura Parker and fundraiser Bethan Wade.

The oldest participant was Hospice volunteer Barbara Spivey who, at 74, was one of several grandmothers who undertook the challenge.

Bethan said: “It was an amazing day and a different kind of fundraising challenge and we’d like to thank everyone for taking part and raising funds for the Hospice.  Everyone had a great time and hopefully we can arrange another wing walk.”

Sahara Trek Postponed

East Cheshire Hospice has been forced to postpone its Saharan trek again because of Covid-19. On-going uncertainty over international travel restrictions left organisers with no option but to delay the adventure until November 2022.

It was initially put back until this coming winter but a decision has been made to delay until Nov 12-19 next year. Places are still available for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity which involves scaling Moroccan sand dunes and camping under the stars. A four-day 50 kilometre trek ends with a two-day stop in Marrakech to assist with a community project.

The trip costs £1,320, including a £325 registration fee payable at the time of booking to secure a place. Participants will then be required to fundraise a minimum of £1,990 for the Hospice. Support and fundraising ideas will be provided by staff to help meet the target. Contact Bethan Wade on 01625 665691 or email bwade@echospice.org.uk to find out more.

Challenge Co-ordinator Bethan said: “We’re sorry to have to delay the trek again, but I’m sure it’ll be a fabulous experience when it does finally take place. “The travel team will ensure all safety measures are put in place and we can offer ideas and inspiration on fundraising.”

Contact Bethan Wade on 01625 665691 or email bwade@echospice.org.uk to find out more.

Trekkers include accounts assistant Rob Gorton who has been undertaking a series of fundraising challenges in aid of the charity this year.

Rob Gorton who is taking part in a Saharan trek in aid of East Cheshire Hospice.

 

 

Art Fair Delayed

The organisers of Art Fair Cheshire have reluctantly taken the decision to postpone the event until May 2022. The biennial art fair takes place at Macclesfield Town Hall in support of East Cheshire Hospice. The decision has been taken because of the on-going uncertainty around the coronavirus pandemic. The popular event had been scheduled to start at the end of September.

Co-chair Georgie Johnson said: “We’re disappointed to have to postpone the event but strict limits on numbers allowed in the Town Hall, along with rising Covid cases, means that we felt we had no choice. “We’ve had such generous support from sponsors this year and rather than risk that funding if the event were cancelled at the last minute, we’ve decided to re-book the event for May 26 until June 5 next year. “All of our participating artists are on board to take part again and we look forward to seeing everyone then.”

Visitors at the last Art Fair in 2019.

Art Fair Cheshire involves more than 80 artists, each of whom donates 40 per cent of the sales of their work to the Hospice. The event has been running for 22 years and is proud to support artists from all over the north west. The next event will feature a new gallery of emerging and recently-graduated artists as well as many artists from across the region and beyond. Local primary schools are also involved and have been busy designing sunflowers, which feature on the Hospice logo. These will be displayed as a huge wall of celebratory flowers when the event opens next year.

Sunflowers drawn by pupils at Alderley Edge School for Girls as part of a project to involve schools in the next Art Fair in May 2022

Two years ago the event raised £45,000 to provide funds for the Hospice’s art therapy unit. It has donated around £300,000 to the Hospice since 1999. To sign up to the Art Fair Cheshire newsletter, or for more information about events, talks and artists, visit www.artfaircheshire.org.uk. It is the latest fundraising event in aid of the Hospice to be delayed by the Covid crisis. The Hospice has already put back its Memory Miles walk at Adlington Hall from late August until Friday, March 25.