Support flooded in yet again for East Cheshire Hospice during another memorable year for the Hospice.
New beds will arrive early in 2026 thanks to the overwhelming success of a Bed Appeal.
Hospice staff thank supporters for reaching the Bed Appeal target with a celebratory pyjama day.
The community rallied round when the call was made and before long enough funds were raised to provide 16 upgraded beds.
Head of fundraising Laura Tomlinson said: “The Bed Appeal brought an amazing response and was one of many examples of generosity from our loyal supporters.”
Details of next year’s Starlight Walk have just been announced with memories of the 2025 event still fresh in the mind.
Tom Willis and mum Sandra (centre) with colleagues from Capesthorne Hall during the Starlight Walk.
Almost 300 walkers strolled through the grounds of Capesthorne Hall in May, raising £32,000 for the charity.
Among them Tom Willis, catering manager at Capesthorne, who was joined by mum Sandra Biddulph.
Her late father Jack Key (91) ran a haulage business and was cared for by the Hospice.
The 2026 Starlight Walk is on Thursday, April 16. Registrations are now open via www.eastcheshirehospice.org.uk/starlight-walk-2026.
This year’s walk was blessed with blue skies, though the same could not be said for a Mount Snowdon climb.
Volunteer John Wilkinson proudly shows off his medal from his Snowdon climb.
A 40-strong Hospice group battled wind and rain during the nine-mile overnight trek in August, raising almost £25,000.
At 68, grandfather John Wilkinson was one of the oldest walkers, raising more than £1,700.
The retired policeman said: “It was gruelling. You couldn’t see in front of you. It was foggy, wet and miserable but still good fun.”
John volunteers at the Thornton Square shop and collects furniture for the Hospice.
The year also saw Hospice Aid and Hospice Rocks, both nostalgic music shows.
Musicians performing at Hospice Aid.
Hospice Aid recreated songs from the Live Aid concert 40 years earlier, ending with a rousing chorus of the iconic Feed the World.
Macclesfield band Virginmarys headlined Hospice Rocks, a musical extravaganza in memory of Maureen Bailey who spent her final days at the Hospice.
Husband Alan and son Stuart, who run Trackside Studios, organised the event at Cinemac.
Veteran cyclist Graham Daly rode the length of Britain, two decades on from riding all the way through France.
Graham Daly sets off from Land’s End on his marathon cycling trip.
At 79, Graham became one of the older cyclists to complete the Land’s End to John O’Groats ride on a non-electric bike.