LENNY HELPS TO LAUNCH SALE OF DRAGON BOAT PROGRAMMES
30 June 2010
Lenny Bear, mascot of York’s St Leonard’s Hospice, is encouraging everyone to support the 2010 York Rotary Great Dragon Boat Challenge by buying a programme in advance of the event, which takes place on Sunday 11 July.
The Hospice, which this year celebrates 25 years of caring for local people, is the main charity for this year’s event. The programmes give information about the work of St Leonard’s, as well as full details of the teams, the times of the races and lots of background information about the races and the other entertainment. All the proceeds from the programmes, which cost £1, go direct to St Leonard’s, as all the production costs are met through advertising.
The programmes are on sale from Saturday 3 July. Lenny Bear and his Hospice colleagues will be alongside Rotarians in St Sampson’s Square in the city centre from 10.00am to 4.00pm selling the programmes. Programmes will also be on sale from all the participating teams and members of York Rotary Club. Each programme has a unique number, and on the day of the races one will be chosen at random to win a prize of four first class tickets for the East Coast network.
Thirty-six teams – a third of them newcomers – will compete in this year’s Dragon Boats Races, paddling furiously along the River Ouse between Scarborough Bridge and Lendal Bridge. All the team members raise sponsorship, with a third of it going to St Leonard’s Hospice as this year’s nominated charity and the rest to a charity of their choosing. Some teams have elected to give all their sponsorship money to the Hospice in this Jubilee Year.
St Leonard’s Hospice enters a team – Lenny’s Lovelies – each year, and for the first time Lenny himself will be in the boat, providing the drumming that keeps the team paddling in unison and spurs them on to greater effort. They have high hopes of gaining some sort of trophy!
David Impey, Chairman of York Rotary’s Dragon Boat Committee, says, ‘Since 2003 our Dragon Boat Races has raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for charity, and we know that this year is going to be just as successful. We’re sure the sun will shine, so please come along, cheer loudly for the teams and enjoy the rest of the entertainment. You are guaranteed a fun day!
Janet Morley, Director of Fundraising at St Leonard’s Hospice says, ‘With Lenny Bear leading our Lenny’s Lovelies team anything could happen, so buy your programme and turn up to see them in action! It is always a great day, and in this Jubilee year for St Leonard’s we are especially grateful to the members of York Rotary for dedicating the proceeds to our work of caring for local people.’
DRINGHOUSES SCHOOL CHOIR ENTERTAINS HOSPICE PATIENTS
29 June 2010
Daycare patients at York’s St Leonard’s Hospice were entertained by young visitors from Dringhouses Primary School when the school’s choir visited to sing for them.
The 30-strong choir was conducted by teacher Jenny Langley, and they were accompanied by Head Teacher Julia Elliott. They gathered in the main Daycare sitting room at the Hospice on Tadcaster Road, not far from the school, and sang a number of songs to the patients.
Barbara Jackson, Daycare Leader at St Leonard’s Hospice, says, ‘It’s always great to have young people visiting us, and the Dringhouses School choir sang beautifully. All our patients really enjoyed hearing them, and we hope they will visit us again soon.’
Patients come from home to St Leonard’s Hospice Daycare, usually for one day a week, for a combination of practical help and social relaxation in a spacious, specially-designed area of the Hospice. Daycare offers a very varied programme of crafts, music and entertainment, as well as the chance to sit and chat.
HOSPICE SUNFLOWERS AMONG THE LOCOMOTIVES AT RAILWAY MUSEUM
28 June 2010
Sunflowers coloured and decorated by local schoolchildren are forming a special display at the National Railway Museum (NRM) in York to mark the 25th anniversary of the opening of the city’s St Leonard’s Hospice – and the famous Mallard locomotive has a part to play.
Children from 14 schools in York and the surrounding area have been hard at work colouring sunflower shapes for the display. They have been joined by young visitors to the Museum as well as by people attending the Hospice’s Summer Fair and patients in its Daycare unit.
In all, more than 3,000 individual sunflowers will make up the display, which is on the footbridge and adjoining platform areas in the Museum’s Great Hall. Some of the sunflowers are attached to cut-out Mallard shapes, so that, with the locomotive now at the NRM’s Shildon base, visitors have a reminder of it in York.
A summer burst of sunflowers from local schools has been organised by St Leonard’s Hospice somewhere in the centre of York since 1996. The display was last at the NRM in June 1998. It has also been in York Minster three times and in the Theatre Royal, the Library, as well as on the Eye of York and in St Helen’s Square.
Janet Morley, Director of Fundraising at St Leonard’s Hospice, says, ‘In the Silver Jubilee Year of the Hospice, and the 15th anniversary of our sunflower display, it’s really good to be back in the National Railway Museum with our special sunflower display. It’s always a colourful and joyful sight, and we are very grateful to all the children – and everyone else! – who have decorated the sunflowers so beautifully.
‘We also thank our friends at the NRM for giving us the space to display them, as well as for their generous help in putting the display together. Please go along and see the display among the locomotives and carriages of the Museum – the whole experience is fantastic!’
Hannah Collingridge, Explainer Team Leader at the NRM, says, ‘It’s wonderful to have our Percy Main bridge looking so bright and colourful. Everyone has done a fantastic job of decorating the sunflowers and I’m sure our visitors will love the display.’
The sunflowers were decorated by:
- Barlow CE Primary School
- Busy Bees Day Nursery
- Children at St Leonard’s Summer Fair
- Clifton Pre-Prep
- Dringhouses Primary School
- English Martyrs’ RC Primary School
- Escrick CE Primary School
- Haxby Road Primary School
- Linton on Ouse Primary School
- National Railway Museum Visitors
- Poppleton Road Primary School
- Scarcroft Road Primary School
- St Leonard’s Hospice Day Care Patients
- St Wilfrid’s Nursery
- St Wilfrid’s School
- Tanghall Primary School
- Tregelles (The Mount Junior School)
- Wiggington Primary School
KIRK HAMMERTON CHILDREN JOIN LENNY BEAR FOR A BIRTHDAY WALK
25 June 2010
All 41 children who attend Kirk Hammerton CofE Primary School near York will be putting their best feet forward on FRIDAY 25 JUNE as Lenny Bear, mascot of York’s St Leonard’s Hospice, leads them in a special Birthday Walk to mark the Hospice’s 25th anniversary.
The children, whose ages range from 5 to 11, will be walking in the school’s playing field, and there will be special challenges on the way for some of the older children. Lenny Bear will be helping – or hindering – them along the way.
Jenni Kirkwood, the School’s Secretary, says, ‘We have known people who have been cared for by St Leonard’s so we are always keen to do what we can to support the Hospice.’
Sarah Atkinson, Community Fundraiser at St Leonard’s Hospice, says, ‘The children are organising sponsorship for themselves for the Birthday Walk to help St Leonards, and we are really grateful to them, their parents and friends and to the school for their generous support. Lenny Bear loves being with children and being out in the country, so a morning at Kirk Hammerton School is an ideal outing for him!’
GENEROUS CUSTOMERS HELP THE HOSPICE IN EASTER EGG GAMES
27 June 2010
Giant Easter eggs, cuddly rabbits and a furry duck have helped raise almost £10,000 for the work of York’s St Leonard’s Hospice.
The Hospice asked more than 150 business and organisations of all types, including clubs, pubs, restaurants and cafes to display the large decorated eggs, each of which came in a wicker basket complete with cuddly Easter rabbit.
Everyone who took an egg ran a competition, with customers paying £1 for their choice of numbered square on a game board. When all the squares were full, the winning number, which had been chosen at random and placed in a sealed envelope, was revealed and the customer was presented with the egg.
The highest amount raised this year was more than £470, achieved with competitions for two giant eggs and with the raffle of a large furry toy duck by York Burton Stone Working Men’s Club.
Jean Cross of St Leonard’s Hospice Fundraising Team says, ‘We have been running the competition now for nine years, and this year’s total is a record amount, which all goes towards the work of the Hospice. We are grateful to all the businesses who supported us this year and to everyone who took part in the competitions – with a special thanks to York Burton Stone WMC for all their hard work and generosity.’
GOLF COMEDY RAISES £5,000 for YORK HOSPICE
25 June 2010
A new comedy about chaos at a golf club has raised almost £5,000 for the work of York’s St Leonard’s Hospice – as well as entertaining audiences in the theatre and at three local golf clubs.
‘Par for the Course’, specially written by internationally-recognised dramatist Peter Gordon, was performed in April by locally-recruited members of Peter’s not-for-profit Piggyback Theatre Company at the Alan Ayckbourn Theatre in York College on Tadcaster Road. It followed the comic results of Captain’s Day at the fictional Seven Lakes golf club as the Captain phones in sick and other members vie for glory – only to meet a series of mounting disasters.
There were also special performances of ‘Par for the Course’ in the appropriate settings of Pike Hills Golf Club and Fulford Golf Club – both regular supporters of the Hospice – and an invitation performance at York Golf Club who heard about the play and asked the company to take it there, too.
Peter Gordon, whose plays are performed around the world and is particularly well known for his trilogy of whodunit spoofs featuring the inept Inspector Pratt, says, ‘We had very enthusiastic audiences for the play, and it was particularly well received at the golf clubs! We are pleased to have made a good sum for the work of St Leonard’s, and we are planning further productions to help, too. Anyone who would like to be involved should keep an eye on our website at www.piggybacktheatre.com for more information.’
Janet Morley, Director of Fundraising at St Leonard’s Hospice, says, ‘It was great to attend a performance and hear the gales of laughter for Peter’s play and know that it was helping to raise funds for the work of St Leonard’s. We are really grateful to Peter, his actors and the backstage team for so generously giving their time and talents to the Hospice.’
HOSPICE’S MIDNIGHT WALK DRAWS RECORD NUMBER
22 June 2010
Supporters of York’s St Leonard’s Hospice were out in force as midnight struck on Saturday 19 June as almost 500 people and at least 15 dogs lined up to take part in the annual Midnight Walk.
The record number of walkers, who were helping to raise funds for the Hospice, gathered at York College on Sim Balk Lane, where after signing in they were entertained by Centurion Jazz. They set off at midnight on the 6-mile route that followed pavements and cycle paths around the centre of York.
Because of resurfacing on Lendal Bridge the route was changed at the last minute, but still took them through York city centre, passing York Minster. All the walkers had been checked back in to York College by 2.30 am, where they were fed bacon sandwiches before leaving for home.
Janet Morley, Director of Fundraising at St Leonard’s Hospice, says, ‘for a June night it was extremely cold and rather windy, but nothing could spoil the enthusiasm of all our walkers – or their dogs. Everyone had a really good time, and raised funds for our work at the same time. Sponsorship money is just starting to come in, so it’s too early to give a total – we hope at least to equal last year’s record £26,000.
‘We are really grateful to York College for the use of their premises, to Centurion Jazz for playing so brilliantly, to all our volunteers and stewards, to the suppliers of refreshments, in particular the butchers, Ged Bell Butchers of Middlethorpe Grove, Piercey's Pork Butchers of Gracious Street, M & K Butchers of Bishopthorpe Road and Richardsons of Woodthorpe, to Dave Taylor, who lent us the giant barbecue – and of course, to the intrepid walkers! We hope to see them – and lots more people and dogs, too – at our next Midnight Walk on 18 June 2011!’
HOSPICE BEAR INVITED TO OPEN BARLOW SCHOOL FIELD
21 June 2010
A VIP guest – Lenny Bear, mascot of York’s St Leonard’s Hospice – was asked along to Barlow Church of England Primary School near Selby on Friday 18 June to be the official opener of the school’s playing field and to lead a Hospice Birthday Walk.
Lenny officially declared the field open by cutting a ribbon at a short ceremony at the school before setting off for several circuits with the children, who were all dressed in World-Cup-themed clothes. They were 
all raising money for the work of St Leonard’s Hospice, which is celebrating its 25th birthday this year.
Barlow Primary School’s field has been out of use for some time because of poor drainage and then flooding. Now new drains have been installed and it has been returfed, so that the children will once again be able to enjoy games there.
Sarah Atkinson, Community Fundraiser at St Leonard’s Hospice, says, ‘Barlow Primary School is one of our most regular supporters, and Lenny Bear tells me that he is delighted to have been honoured with the task of opening the field! We are really grateful to the children and the staff for their commitment to the work of the Hospice, and for helping us with the special Birthday Walk in our 25th anniversary year.’
CELEBRATIONS AS SUNFLOWER BALL RAISES MORE THAN £53,000
17 June 2010
Celebrations are under way after the St Leonard's Hospice Sunflower Ball raised more than £53,000.
Members of the sunflower ball committee are celebrating after the Silver Jubilee anniversary event bucked the recession to raise £53,550.
About 566 guests enjoyed a fun-filled evening at York Racecourse in April, that included a champagne reception and five-course meal, and were entertained by artists including The University of York Jazz Quartet and the dance band Pure Silk.
Mature students from York College held an exhibition and auction of their sunflower artworks and there was a grand prize draw, a charity casino, 'Pick a Flower' and a silent auction to bolster the fundraising effort.
Fundraising highlights included the Superbreak Mini Holidays Grand prize draw and dinner for ten at the Cedar Court Grand, York’s first five-star hotel.
Sunflower Ball committee chairwoman Helen Williams said: “We were expecting that the recession would affect the amount we raised, but thanks to the generosity of everyone who attended the ball and supporters like Superbreak, who have sponsored the grand prize draw for the last four Sunflower Balls now, we have exceeded our expectations.
'We’re highly delighted and are already planning the next ball on April 29 2012.'
The funds raised at the 25th Anniversary Sunflower Ball help towards the £3.3 million annual running costs of St Leonard’s Hospice, which cares for people with life threatening illnesses. The Sunflower Ball Committee relies on help and support from individuals and local businesses to help make the biennial ball a success.
- If you would like to be involved or support the next ball, in April 2012, email helenwilliams@cellhire.com or phone the Hospice Fundraising Centre on 01904 777777
HOSPICE BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS RAISE £6,000 FOR ITS WORK
16 June 2010
York’s St Leonard’s Hospice celebrated its 25th birthday with a special party on Sunday 13 June – and raised almost £6,000 for its work of caring for local people.
The Hospice’s regular Summer Fair was the basis of the Party, with lots of traditional games and stalls. Hook a Duck, a bouncy castle and hoopla attracted lots of children, while the addition of a beer tent with big-screen TV and a pamper tent, where manicures and beauty tips were on offer, provided other attractions.
A highlight of the afternoon was the arrival of the special 25th Birthday cake, wheeled on by Hospice Mascot Lenny Bear to the accompaniment of ‘Happy Birthday to you’ sung to the accompaniment of the Shepherd Group Concert Band, one of four bands that provided music during the afternoon. The cake was cut by the man who made and decorated it, Hospice Head Chef Darren Walker.
The plant stall was, as always, one of the most popular of the attractions, as were the cake stall and the tombola. There was also a chance to ‘Tie a Yellow Ribbon’ on a special tree to honour a loved one or a friend.
A circus skills workshop and line dancing were among the other attractions. A barbecue and a Pimms tent provided refreshment throughout the afternoon, and the event was rounded off with a hog roast.
Janet Morley, Director of Fundraising at the Hospice, says, ‘In our Silver Jubilee Year we wanted a special celebration, and our Birthday Party certainly provided that! The Hospice grounds were teeming with people all afternoon, and they spent their money very generously. We raised a fantastic amount for our work, and we are very grateful to everyone who helped with the organisation, including our own staff and volunteers. Thank you, everyone!’
FLOWER BED CELEBRATES 25 YEARS OF HOSPICE
15 June 2010
An ornamental flower bed in the heart of York celebrates 25 years of the city’s St Leonard’s Hospice, thanks to the City of York’s Neighbourhood Pride Service.
The display, in the sloping bed at the southern end of Lendal Bridge, is being planted with blue and yellow flowers – the colours of the Hospice. The work is being overseen by Russell Stone, Head of the Neighbourhood Pride Service.
As well as marking the Silver Jubilee of the foundation of St Leonard’s, the flowerbed is also a contribution to York in Bloom.
Janet Morley, Director of Fundraising at St Leonard’s Hospice, says, ‘It was 25 years ago this June that the Hospice was officially opened by our Patron the Duchess of Kent. We are delighted that Russell and his team are helping us mark this very special anniversary with this beautiful floral reminder to residents and visitors of the importance of our work in caring for local people and their families.’
POLICE TAKE TO THE STREETS OF YORK 10K TO MARK HOSPICE JUBILEE
14 June 2010
When York police staff take to the streets in the York 10K race on 1 August to help raise funds for the city’s St Leonard’s Hospice, they’ll leave Mr Plod standing.
Ten of them – including police officers and community support officers – have signed up as some of the 25 runners for St Leonard’s who will mark the 25th anniversary of the Hospice. They will be very visible in their blue ‘Team St Leonard’s’ running vests, and all of them will be sponsored to raise funds for the work of the Hospice in caring for local people and their families.
The York 10K takes place on Yorkshire Day Saturday 1 August, starting and finishing at the Racecourse. It takes runners past York Minster, through the historic city centre streets and along the River Ouse. This year it is expected to attract more than 8000 runners.
Among the runners will be Inspector Colin Moreton, whose wife Helen – who will also be running – is Retail Manager at St Leonard’s Hospice. Helen says, ‘Twenty-five runners for 25 years of the Hospice seemed an appropriate target to aim for – and with the help of Colin and his colleagues we’ve achieved it! We’re all looking forward to the run and to raising funds for the work of the Hospice as it enters its next quarter-century.’
HOSPICE SERVICE MARKS 25 YEARS OF CARING FOR LOCAL PEOPLE
8 June 2010
The vital importance of Hospice care and the value of life were stressed by palliative care expert Baroness Finlay in her address at the 25th Anniversary Service for York’s St Leonard’s Hospice that was held at York Minster on Sunday 6 June.
More than 500 people attended the Thanksgiving Service, which marked 25 years of the Hospice’s work in caring for the people of York and the surrounding area.
In her address Lady Finlay, who is Consultant Professor of Palliative Medicine at Cardiff University, Past President of the Royal Society of Medicine and Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Dying Well, said that she believed euthanasia would never be the answer in caring for people who believed their life was not worth living. Using examples from her own career in palliative medicine, she said that proper care, like that provided in hospices, added immeasurably to the quality of the lives of patients and their families – even in their greatest distress.
Dr Peter Kaye, also a Consultant in Palliative Medicine, was the other speaker at the Service. He described his own experience of having his mother cared for at St Leonard’s – Gladys Kaye had been part of the Hospice Movement in York since its inception, and was for many years Secretary of the Board of Trustees.
The service was conducted by Canon Glyn Webster, Canon-in-Residence, who remembered in his introduction to the service how as a young curate he had been involved with the early fundraising for the Hospice. Hospice Chaplains Andrew Pearce and Maurice Staton read prayers, and lessons were read by Dr Sarah Anderson, the Hospice’s Medical Director, and by Trevor Copley, the founder Chairman. At the conclusion of the service Rosemary Thompson, part of the Hospice team since before the opening in 1985 and now the Bereavement Care Coordinator, read the Hospice Prayer, which she had helped to draft in the Hospice’s early days.
The St Paulinus Singers, conducted by Sam Gardner, generously gave their time to the service and sang three anthems. The organ was played by York Minster Organist John Scott Whiteley.
Martyn Callaghan, Chief executive of St Leonard’s Hospice, says, ‘It was wonderful to see so many people coming together in York Minster to mark this special milestone in the history of St Leonard’s Hospice. We are very grateful to Lady Finlay and Dr Peter Kaye for joining us to give such inspiring addresses, to everyone at the Minster for their help, to the St Paulinus Singers for singing, and to everyone who came. It was a very moving and uplifting occasion for all of us.’
ALL WELCOME AT PARTY TO CELEBRATE 25 YEARS OF ST LEONARD’S HOSPICE
7 June 2010
St Leonard’s Hospice marks its 25th birthday with a special Birthday Party on Sunday June 13 – and is inviting everyone to come along and join in the celebrations.
The party combines the fun and games of the Hospice’s annual Sumer Fair with some extra surprises and entertainment, along with with a hog roast and barbeque. There will be live music throughout the day from the Party’s opening at 1.00pm.
New for the event is a Beer Tent with big-screen television, which will, of course, be tuned to the World Cup. For anyone not interested in the football or the beer, a Pimms tent provides an elegant alternative. There’s the chance to try juggling and other skills in a series of circus workshops, and Line Dancing with experts. A Pamper Tent offers the chance to receive special attention and tips from beauty experts.
The Hospice’s Silver Jubilee Birthday Party takes place at the Hospice, 185 Tadcaster Road, York from 1.00pm to 6.00pm. Entry is by £1 donation for adults – children free. There is no parking at the Hospice – visitors are encouraged to use the Park and Ride bus to Askham Bar, opposite the Hospice.
Judith Wilson, Community Fundraiser at St Leonard’s Hospice, says, ‘This is a very special year for St Leonard’s as we mark 25 years of caring for local people. Our Birthday Party is one of our main celebrations, so we hope lots of people will join us to enjoy games, stalls, live music throughout the day and the evening barbecue and hog roast. As always for our summer events the sun is guaranteed to shine!’
HOSPICE MIDNIGHT WALK STILL WELCOMES ENTRIES
5 June 2010
Anyone who wants a new perspective on York should grab one of the few final places still available for the annual St Leonard’s Hospice Midnight Walk on Saturday 19 June.
The Walk offers the chance to see the city at night, and takes a route that passes through the historic centre, past York Minster, following pavements and cycle paths.
Walkers will check in at York College between 10.30 pm and 11.30 pm. The circular walk, which will be led throughout, begins at 12.00 midnight.
Everyone, of any age – and their dogs! – is welcome to join in the Midnight Walk, but anyone who is 16 or under must be supervised by an adult at all times.
Entry is £10.00 for each walker (£5.00 16 or under) and everyone is being encouraged to get sponsorship. All the proceeds will go towards the £3.3 million annual cost of running St Leonard’s, which makes no charges to its patients or their families.
Helen Moreton, Fundraiser at St Leonard’s Hospice, says, ‘We’ve already signed up hundreds of walkers, but we still have room for a few more! We’ve extended the deadline to 14 June to encourage even more people to join us. So if you’d like to see York in a different light, and help us raise funds, too, please call the Hospice Fundraising Centre on 01904 77 77 77. You must book in advance – for safety reasons we cannot accept entries on the night of the Walk.’
THOMAS’S RECYCLING A HIGHLIGHT OF RICCALL OPEN GARDENS
4 June 2010
Visitors to the annual Riccall Open Gardens, held in aid of York’s St Leonard’s Hospice on 13 June, will have the chance to see a number of new gardens this year, including one belonging to Thomas Barratt that uses natural and man-made recycled materials.
Called ‘The Gnome Garden’, it is in West Court, off Kelfield Road. As well as featuring the small ornaments that give their name to the garden, it also includes a workshop made of fallen trees, drystone wall features including a barbeque area and an archway, and informal planting. Thomas describes it as having ‘a fun and magical feel.’ Cakes and snacks, with tea, coffee and lemonade will be on sale in the garden.
Thomas’s garden is one of ten in the village that will be open on 13 June. As well as his, there are three other new gardens for visitors to see - in Hawthorns, which has raised beds, climbing plants, fruit trees and a water feature; and two in Northfield Lane, one described as ‘a work-in-progress cottage garden’ and the other with a small pond and borders with shrubs and perennials, where tea and cakes will be available.
And hidden somewhere in one of the ten gardens there is a life-sized Dalek.
There are plants, magazines and books on sale in some of the gardens, and the Greyhound and the Hare and Hounds pubs in the village will both be open for Sunday lunch and drinks. The local allotments will also be open for inspection.
The event is organized by the St Leonard’s Hospice Riccall Support Group. A programme giving entrance to all the gardens costs £2.00. They are available on the day at any of the gardens or on the village green. Accompanied children under 14 have free entry. The gardens are open from 1.00 pm to 5.00 pm. All the gardens will be marked with an identifying letter and balloons.
Judith Wilson, St Leonard’s Hospice Community Fundraiser, says, ‘The Riccall Open Gardens are a regular highlight of many people’s year, and we are grateful to everyone in the Riccall Support Group for their hard work in organising what should again prove to be a great event!’
PATRICK’S NON-STOP 100 MILES TO RAISE HOSPICE CASH
3 June 2010
Long-distance walker Patrick McGovern has just completed a trek of more than 100 miles in Perthshire – and raised funds for York’s St Leonard’s Hospice in the process.
A regular long-distance walker, Patrick is a member of the Long Distance Walkers Association, and on 29 May took part in the group’s annual event, starting in Dunkeld. The route went via Blair Athol to Kinlochrannoch and back – a total distance of 104 miles on a route known as the ‘Heart of Scotland’
It was the 24th time that 62-year-old Patrick has undertaken a long-distance walk of this kind. This year the weather conditions were atrocious, and at one point he thought about giving up, but was spurred on by the thought of raising funds for St Leonard’s. He compltered the walk in 35 hours.
Jean Cross of the Hospice’s Fundraising Team says, ‘A non-stop walk of more than 100 miles is beyond most of us, and we really admire both Patrick’s stamina and also his generosity in helping to raise funds for the work of St Leonard’s. We hope that other people who have heard of his determination will come forward and add their support to his fundraising.’
• Anyone wishing to donate to the Hospice on behalf of Patrick can do so online at www.justgiving.com/patrick-mcgovern or can ring St Leonard’s Hospice Fundraising Centre on 01904 77 77 77
HOSPICE CALLS FORMER LUNCHEON CLUB MEMBERS TO REUNION
2 June 2010
St Leonard’s Hospice Luncheon Club has issued an invitation to everyone who has attended its events in the past to a reunion on Monday 7 June.
The Luncheon Club, which meets at the Hospice, was started in 1987, not long after the Hospice was first opened. Members usually attend the monthly meetings for a short time. This year’s annual reunion for current and former members takes place in ‘The Stables Coffee Stop’ at the Hospice (the original Day Hospice building) from 2.00 pm on 7 June, and organisers would be delighted to see past members for tea and a chat.
Booking is not needed for the reunion – just turn up. There is no parking at the Hospice except for people with mobility problems. Visitors are encouraged to use the Park and Ride bus to Askham Bar, opposite the Hospice on Tadcaster Road.
VOLUNTEERS ENJOY TEA PARTY WITH PRIZE-WINNING CAKE AT THE MARRIOTT
2 June 2010
Almost 150 volunteers who give their time to York’s St Leonard’s Hospice were given a big ‘Thank You! with a party hosted at the city’s Marriott Hotel on 1 June.
The Hospice’s Chief Executive Martyn Callaghan thanked all the many volunteers that St Leonard’s relies on to keep its services going, whether they work in the Hospice on Tadcaster Road, in one of the six Hospice shops or in other ways, though fundraising and support.
As part of their help for the event members of staff from the Marriott brought home-made cakes for the volunteers. Their baking was judged by a Hospice volunteer, Olive Hildreth, who is a qualified judge at local shows and exhibitions. She voted a carrot cake by Sarah Moss as the best of the whole range of delicious cakes. Martyn Callaghan presented Sarah with a bottle of champagne.
Judith Wilson, Community Fundraiser at St Leonard’s Hospice, says, ‘Our volunteers are the backbone of the Hospice, and it’s really great to be able to thank them with this special party. We are grateful to them for all their hard work, as well as to Katharina Barenthien, the General Manager of York Marriott Hotel, and all her staff for making us so welcome.’
ALL WELCOME AT HOSPICE JUBILEE SERVICE ON 6 JUNE
21 May 2010
York’s St Leonard’s Hospice will mark its 25th anniversary with a Thanksgiving Service in York Minster at 2.00 pm on Sunday 6 June – and it is inviting everyone to join staff and supporters at the event.
The main speaker at the service is Baroness Finlay of Llandaff, who is Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Dying Well, Past President of the Royal Society of Medicine and Consultant Professor of Palliative Medicine at Cardiff University.
Also giving a short address will be another palliative care expert, Dr Peter Kaye, Consultant in Palliative Medicine at Cynthia Spencer House in Northampton. Peter’s mother Gladys Kaye was for many years secretary to the Trustees of St Leonard’s Hospice.
Gladys Kaye worked closely with the Hospice’s Founder Chairman, Trevor Copley, who retired from the position in 2002. Trevor will read one of the lessons at the service, and one of the Hospice’s longest-serving members of staff, Rosemary Thompson, will read the Hospice Prayer, which she helped to write in the early days of St Leonard’s.
The Sheriff of York, the High Sheriff of North Yorkshire, a Deputy Lieutenant of the County and civic representatives from around the area that St Leonard’s serves will be guests at the service. Music will be provided by The St Paulinus Singers, and the organist will be John Scott Whiteley.
There is no charge to attend the service, but admission is by free ticket, obtainable by calling St Leonard’s Hospice Fundraising Centre on 01904 77 77 77.
Janet Morley, Director of Fundraising at St Leonard’s, says, ‘This Thanksgiving Service is one of the major events of our Silver Jubilee Year, and we want to fill the nave of the Minster! We welcome everyone, especially people whose lives have been touched by the care that St Leonard’s has given for the last 25 years, who have been a part of our work or who have supported us in any way. St Leonard’s has always been an integral part of the local community, and we know that the community will wish to join us in marking this milestone occasion.’
FOOD FESTIVAL AT GREEN HAMMERTON HELPS HOSPICE
19 May 2010
There’s a chance to sample food and drink of all types when the Main Food Festival takes place amid the furniture at The Main Furniture Company’s showroom in Green Hammerton near York on Sunday 23 May – and to help York’s St Leonard’s Hospice at the same time.
The Festival, which has been organised by The Main Furniture Company’s owner Karan Main, takes place at its 20,000-square-foot showroom in Green Hammerton village. The space will be packed with stalls that feature the best of local produce and other goods.
There will be local makers and suppliers of meats, breads, cakes, cheeses, hand-made fudge and ice-cream. Jams, preserves, pickles and chutneys will be available, as well as Indian and Sri-Lankan spices, specialist oils and chilli-based products. Wines, liqueurs and non-alcoholic ginger can be sampled, and there will be stalls selling local and organic produce.
In addition to the food and drink, the event also includes kitchenware, textiles, homewares and ceramics. There will be bags, scarves and jewellery both new and vintage, potted plants and gardening products. Children's clothing and gifts and traditional hand-made teddy bears are also among the line-up, along with local art and crafts.
Throughout the day there will be cooking demonstrations by Cooking Fantastic of Knaresborough and Asharun Spices from Harrogate. There will be a bar and a barbeque as well as face-painting. The Festival is open from 10.30am and 4.30pm. Admission is by a suggested donation of £1.00.
Janet Morley, Director of Fundraising at St Leonard’s Hospice, says, ‘Karan of the Main Furniture Company and her team are regular supporters of the Hospice with their fantastic festivals, and as always they have worked very hard to gather a great deal of support from a wide variety of different food and other specialists. We know from experience that this will be a great event and we are very grateful to everyone for helping St Leonard’s in this brilliant way!’
MASTER BUILDERS DINNER RAISES FUNDS FOR HOSPICE
17 May 2010
Generous builders and their families attending the annual Dinner Dance of the York branch of the Federation of Master Builders raised £400 for St Leonard’s Hospice during the evening.
Almost 100 people attended the event, at York Racecourse. As well as enjoying the dinner and the dancing, they took part in fundraising activities, including a raffle.
The Federation has made a donation to St Leonard’s, its chosen charity, from this special event.
Janet Morley, Director of Fundraising at the Hospice, says, ‘Once again the members of the York Branch of the Federation – among our regular supporters – have raised a great sum for our work. We are very grateful to them, and we are delighted to have ‘built’ a special relationship with them!’
FOOTY TIGERS PUT BEST FOOT FORWARD IN HOSPICE MIDNIGHT WALK
17 May 2010
When the annual Midnight Walk for St Leonard’s Hospice kicks off on the stroke of 12 on Saturday 19 June, the walkers will include members of the Poppleton Tigers Girls Football Team U13s.
The girls, who won their League and took the League Cup in the 2009-2010 season, are coached by Chris McAteer, who is a relief shop manager at the St Leonard’s Hospice shops.
Six of the girls are taking part in the Midnight Walk, which starts and finishes at York College on Sim Balk Lane not far from the Hospice. They are Emily Calpin, Shannon Horner, Coral Kelly, Ellie Priestman, Ruth McAteer and Emily McKellar. Two other girls from the team, Hannah McAvoy and Beth Falcus are away with their school on the night of the walk, though they were keen to join in, too.
Everyone, of any age, is welcome to join in the Midnight Walk, but anyone who is 16 or under, like the Poppleton Tigers, must be supervised by an adult at all times.
Walkers will check in at York College between 10.30 pm and 11.30 pm. The circular walk begins at 12.00 midnight, following pavements and cycle paths around the centre of York. It will be led throughout. There is a charge of £10.00 for each walker (£5.00 16 or under) and everyone is being encouraged to get sponsorship. All the proceeds will go towards the £3.2 million annual cost of running St Leonard’s, which makes no charges to its patients or their families.
Helen Moreton, Retail Manager at St Leonard’s Hospice, says, ‘It’s great to get an award-winning team on our side in the Midnight Walk! We’re very grateful to all the girls for signing up, and to Chris for motivating them so well on the field and to do the fundraising Walk for us.’
‘TIE A YELLOW RIBBON’ TO HELP ST LEONARD’S HOSPICE
16 May 2010
Supporters of St Leonard’s Hospice are being invited to ‘Tie a Yellow Ribbon’ to a special tree in the grounds of the Hospice to honour their loved ones and friends.
Remembering loved ones with a yellow ribbon has become an important part of many people’s lives. Throughout the month of June St Leonard’s offers everyone the chance to ‘Tie a Yellow Ribbon’ on the tree on its Tadcaster Road site, in return for a donation to help its work of caring for local people. Yellow is the colour of hope and memory, and is a colour especially associated with the hospice movement.
The first ribbon this year is to be tied by Julie Pickernell, from the Hospice @ Home team. Initially set up as a once year pilot scheme, Hospice@Home staff work alongside a patient’s primary care team as part of the package of care set up to support the patient and their family at the end of their life. The H@H service also supports rapid discharge from Hospital or Hospice when someone chooses to die at home.
Each yellow ribbon carries the name of the person honoured, and will be tied in place by one of the Hospice staff. The ribbons will remain on the tree throughout June, which is Hospice Awareness Month.
To remember someone with a yellow ribbon use the coupon here or ask for a leaflet from one of the Hospice shops in Acomb, Haxby, Pocklington, Scarcroft Road and Tang Hall, from Hospice reception in Tadcaster Road or from St Leonard’s Hospice Fundraising Centre by calling 01904 77 77 77.
Helen Moreton from St Leonard's Hospice Fundraising Team, says, ‘A yellow ribbon is a very visible reminder of a loved one or a friend, and by making a donation and having a yellow ribbon tied to our special tree, you will be making a positive contribution to our work of caring for local people.’
MINSTER SCHOOL RAISES MORE THAN £4000 FOR HOSPICE
11 May 2010
Children from The Minster School in York have been hard at work raising funds for the city’s
St Leonard’s Hospice – and have achieved the sum of more than £4,000 by their efforts.
The school decided to raise funds for St Leonard’s after the Hospice cared for one of their staff, Sue Valentine, the school’s long-serving and much loved secretary.
As a tribute to Sue and in recognition of the care she had received at St. Leonard’s Hospice, the children decided that they would make the Hospice the subject of their charity fund-raising for the spring term.
Everyone in the school took part, from the Pre-Prep up to the top class. Among their efforts, the children undertook cake-bakes, sponsored bike rides from the school to Beningborough Hall, sponsored swims, spells, skips, runs and all manner of activities.
The total they raised was £4,222. The Minster School’s Headmaster Alex Donaldson says, ‘I am very proud of the children who really threw themselves into raising a magnificent sum in memory of a magnificent lady’
Janet Morley, Director of Fundraising at St Leonard’s Hospice, says, ‘This is a fantastic effort and a magnificent total from everyone at The Minster School. We shall put the money they have raised into our new Hospice@Home pilot scheme, which is already helping support local people with life-threatening illnesses to remain in their own homes. We are very grateful to all the children, staff, parents and supporters of the school for working so hard to help us to continue our care.’
TWENTIETH CHALLENGE WALK ATTRACTS RECORD NUMBER IN JUBILEE YEAR
11 May 2010
In the year that St Leonard’s Hospice celebrates its Silver Jubilee there was the largest-ever turnout for the annual St Leonard’s Hospice Challenge Walk on Saturday 1 May.
This was the 20th Challenge walk, which over the years has raised more than £200,000 for the Hospice’s work of caring for local people with life-threatening illness. In kind weather 
201 people set out from Haworth and followed the 20-mile circular route.
Everyone at St Leonard’s is very grateful to all the walkers, many of whom were sponsored, and although it will be some time before this year’s total is known, it is already clear that it will be another impressive sum.
Janet Morley, the Hospice’s Director of Fundraising, says, ‘Once again we are very grateful to our generous friends from Mike Thorpe Windows, who sponsored the refreshments and helped at checkpoints, and to Colin Whattam of Badger Hill Bakery, who again supplied the very-welcome pies to re-stoke the walkers as they finished the 
route.
'We are grateful, too, to NFU Mutual Ebor branch, which supplied the tee-shirts for all the walkers.
‘Thank you to everyone – walkers, supporters and friends and families who so generously added their sponsorship. Your help in our 25th year – and at all other times – is greatly appreciated.’
SAINSBURY'S STAFF CASH IN FOR HOSPICE
6 May 2010
Hospice Fundraiser Sarah Atkinson was at Sainsbury's store in Blossom Street to receive a cheque for £355. Staff at the store rasied the funds in a series of events throughout the year, including a sponsored walk, tombolas and collecting buckets at the tills. The money they rasied was shared between St Leonard's Hospice and the Love of Bryony Aveyard Fund - Well Child.
FRIENDS’ CAKES RAISE £100 FOR HOSPICE
6 May 2010
Raising funds for York’s St Leonard’s Hospice has been a piece of cake for friends Lauren Wood (11) and Paddy Burtenshaw (10) – they’ve been baking cakes and selling them, and have now raised £100.
Lauren and Paddy, of Coda Avenue in Bishopthorpe, both go to Archbishop of York’s Junior School in Bishopthorpe. They have been making and selling the cakes for the Hospice since the end of last year. They sometimes take some to school to sell, and also sell them to staff at the workplace of Lauren’s father, Neil Wood.
Janet Morley, Director of Fundraising at St Leonard’s Hospice, says, ‘It’s really fantastic that Lauren and Paddy have been working so hard to make such great cakes and raise funds for our work. We are very grateful to them – they have set such a good example to the rest of us!’
ASH WILL TAKE ‘WALKIES’ ACROSS ENGLAND FOR HOSPICE
4 May 2010
‘Walkies’ is taking on a whole new meaning for one York dog, which is trekking 192 miles from west to east on the Coast to Coast walk to raise funds for York’s St Leonard’s Hospice.
Ash, a six-and-a-half-year-old Weimaraner dog has a new blue coat for the walk, with ‘Walking Coast to Coast for St Leonard’s Hospice’ and a bright yellow sunflower, the Hospice’s symbol, on it.
She will set off from St Bees on the Cumbrian coast on 4 June, taking with her her owner Steve Jowsey, who formerly lived in Brayton near Selby and now lives in Beverley, and some friends. Together they will cross the country on foot to the east coast at Robin Hoods Bay.
The walk will raise money for St Leonard’s because the Hospice cared for Steve’s sister-in-law Julie Bean, who died, aged 43, in October 2009. Steve says, ‘While Julie was in the Hospice, she was given care that was beyond belief. St Leonard's is an extraordinary, peaceful, calm and special place.’
Sarah Atkinson, Community Fundraiser at St Leonard’s Hospice, says, ‘It’s great that Ash is ready to walk across England to raise funds for us, and to bring Steve and his friends along as well! We worked closely with Steve to find a coat for Ash and with our printer to have it customised for her, so that she’ll be the smartest and warmest dog on the Coast to Coast! We are really grateful to them all for taking on this special challenge.’
• Ash (and Steve and his friends) welcome sponsorship for the Coast to Coast Walk. Donations can be taken on line at http://www.justgiving.com/stevejowsey
ELVIS RAISES CHARITY CASH AT YORK MARRIOTT
29 April 2010
The York Marriott Hotel was ‘all shook up’ on Friday 23 April when leading Elvis tribute act Neil Wood entertained more than 100 people in an event that raised funds for the city’s St Leonard’s Hospice and for Victim Support.
The evening was arranged for members of the hotel’s Leisure Club, and was also open to members of the public, who enjoyed Neil’s performance and gave generously to the two charities, raising almost £1,500 during the evening.
Leisure Club Team Leader Fiona Thompson, who organised the event, says, ‘Neil was fantastic as Elvis, and all our guests had a really great evening – it certainly wasn’t a case of ‘Heartbreak Hotel’! We are very pleased to have been able to help two charities that are very near to our hearts, St Leonard’s and Victim Support.’
Janet Morley, Director of Fundraising at St Leonard’s Hospice, says, ‘York Marriott is one of our most regular supporters. We are very grateful to them for organising this special Elvis evening to raise funds for our work, and to Neil for generously giving his time and voice to the event!’
CANNON TO FIRE OVER MARSTON MOOR AS WALKERS RAISE HOSPICE FUNDS
29 April 2010
A cannon will once again fire over Marston Moor, one of the most famous Civil War battlefields, during an afternoon of exploration in aid of York’s St Leonard’s Hospice on Sunday 9 May.
As part of the ‘Marston Moor Guided Battlefield Walk & Cream Teas’ event, a group of English Civic War soldiers from Lilburnes and Glenhams regiment of the Sealed Knot, dressed in full uniform, will fire the cannon in honour of the fallen at White Sike, near the battlefield’s official burial site.
The Walk will be led by Russell Marwood, Battlefields Project Officer at York Archaeological Trust. He will talk about the personalities and events of the Battle, which took place on 2 July 1644, show the weapons the armies used and will lead the walk to show where the Royalists and Parliamentarians took up their positions in the battle.
The walk will start at Marston Grange, home to organiser Joanne Smakman, whose family farms on the battlefield. She is raising funds for St Leonard’s Hospice because the Hospice cared for her brother-in-law John Shepherd.
After the walk, cream teas will be served, with cakes and scones generously provided by the Bar Convent in York. Long Marston History Society is putting on displays and there will be a raffle, plant and cake stalls. Prizes in the raffle include a luxury Spa Day voucher for two people donated by Middlethorpe Hall.
Janet Morley, Director of Fundraising at St Leonard’s Hospice, says, ‘The Marston Moor Walk promises to be a fascinating and eye-opening experience. We are very grateful to Joanne for organising it and to everyone who is so generously supporting it. We look forward to a great day!’
Tickets for the event, which begins at 2.00pm on 9 May, cost £12 (£8 under 16s/free for under 10s) and include the walk and tea. They should be obtained in advance from Joanne Smakman on 0798 420 1498 or e-mail: david.smakman@unicombox.com
LAST CHANCE TO SEE GOLF COMEDY AND TO HELP YORK’S HOSPICE
28 April 2010
There’s a final chance to see ‘Par for the Course’, a new play by internationally-recognised dramatist Peter Gordon which has already been seen by enthusiastic audiences in the city, when it has its last performance at York Golf Club in Strensall on Friday 14 May.
The play has been raising funds for York’s St Leonard’s Hospice, and deals with the comic consequences of a chaotic Captain’s Day at the Seven Lakes Golf Club, which begins when the Captain phones in sick.
The play has already been performed at Pike Hills Golf Club and at Fulford Golf Club to great acclaim, and will have its last performance at the Strensall club. The performance begins at 8.00pm, and playgoers can enjoy a meal at the club beforehand if they book in advance on 01904 499803.
The tickets for the play, which cost £10.00, are on sale to personal callers at York Golf Club on Lords Moor Lane in Strensall, and also from St Leonard’s Shop at 72 The Village, Haxby.
HOSPICE FASHION SHOW RAISES £2,700
27 April 2010
When the St Leonard’s Hospice Fashion Show ‘Step Out in Style’ took to the stage earlier this month to mark the charity’s 25th anniversary, it raised £2,700 for the work of the Hospice.
The show, which attracted more than 200 people to the Gateway Centre in Front Street, Acomb, brought together all five of the Hospice’s shops. They pooled their fashion resources for the show, with a wide range of fashion clothes and accessories, from casual to smart. All the items in the show had been donated to the shops.
The show’s models were all volunteers – a mix of Hospice shops’ customers and staff – and all the items they modelled were on sale after the show, at excellent prices.
Helen Moreton, Retail Manager at St Leonard’s, says, ‘The fashion show proved to be a fantastic success, with everyone there really excited by the clothes and accessories that were on display. We are very grateful to the staff at the Gateway Centre for making us so welcome, to our fantastic compere for the evening, Howard Smelt-Webb, to all our models, to the staff and volunteers at our shops – and especially to the generous audience who helped to raise such a great amount for our work.’
LENNY BEAR RUNS IN MASCOT RACE
27 April 2010
Hospice mascot Lenny Bear took part in The Mascot Gold Cup 2010, at Wetherby Racecourse. This year's race had the theme 'Local Produce , Local Markets' The mascots had to race over a distance of one furlong, over six fences, with a handicap start.
More than 50 Mascots gathered on the day to support their chosen charity or Sue Ryder Care. They paraded around the show ring in the glorious sunshine, shaking hands and meeting their fans. They then lined up at the one-furlong mark with the end and six fences in sight.
Lenny was competing in celebration of St Leonard's Hospice's Silver Jubilee. Lenny is York All-comers Sack Race Champion, having been sacked regularly for misbehaving! He is a loveable but very mischievous bear who was extremely competitive so definitely one to watch. He was desperate to beat his 44th position last year in a fuller field. The bookmakers were advertising Lenny with 12-1 odds.
Sadly, Lenny did not come first! With his 14-second handicap we are still waiting for the final positioning, but we know he improved on last year's placing - and he is already in training for next year!
Mascots of all shapes and sizes turned out for the race. Some of them really struggled even to negotiate the hurdles and had to be carried to the finishing line. A good time was had by all before a change in the weather, which would have left the mascots very soggy.
HOSPICE GARDENERS SAY ‘PLANT A POT FOR THE PARTY’
22 April 2010
Gardeners tackling their plots as spring bursts are being asked by the volunteer gardeners at York’s St Leonard’s Hospice to pot up a few extra plants that can be sold at the Plant Sale, part of the Hospice’s Silver Jubilee Birthday Party on Sunday 13 June.
In its 25th Anniversary Year the traditional fun of the Hospice’s Summer Fair and the popular Plant Sale are to be part of the Birthday Party, which will run from 1.00 pm to 6.00 pm.
The Hospice’s gardeners, who keep the Hospice grounds looking colourful throughout the year, are already busy planting and potting in readiness for their part in the celebrations. Now they are calling on all their green-fingered supporters to help St Leonard’s by potting up an extra plant or two, or perhaps prepare an extra tray of plants to donate to the Hospice.
All types of plants are welcome for the Plant Sale at the Party: bedding plants, houseplants, vegetable plants, small bushes – indeed, anything that grows! All the proceeds from the Sale go towards the Hospice’s work of caring for local people. The plant sales have a reputation for excellence at bargain prices, and for unusual and top-quality plants. The Plant Sales regularly raise more than £1,000.
Judith Wilson, Community Fundraiser at St Leonard’s Hospice, says, ‘Our Silver Jubilee is a very special occasion, and our Birthday Party promises to be one of our major events. If you’re a gardener, we need your help to make it even more special. Our gardeners prepare lots of the plants themselves, but we also rely on generous local gardeners, so we hope lots of them will set a few aside for us. It’s a great way of celebrating our birthday with us!
If you have plants to offer, please call the Hospice Fundraising Centre on 01904 77 77 77. The Hospice gardeners hope to start bringing the plants together for the sale from mid-May.
HOSPICE PATIENTS’ ART ON SHOW AT YORK HOSPITAL
21 April 2010
Artwork by patients who visit Daycare at York’s St Leonard’s Hospice has gone on display at York District Hospital.
The works, on show in the hospital’s main corridor and courtyards, have been produced by a number of people who attend, or who have attended, Daycare at the Hospice. Daycare provides an opoportunity for people with life-threatening illnesses to have a day out and join others at the Hospice for fellowship, entertainment and activities – including art.
The Hospice has an artist-in-residence, Adie French, who, with the Hospice’s Daycare Activities Coordinator Carole Slawson, encourages patients to undertake art of all types, including painting, collage, mosaic and fabric printing.
One of the patients who have work on display at the hospital is Alan Holdsworth. He has been coming to Daycare each Tuesday for some time, and is very pleased to have his work exhibited. ‘I enjoy the art,’ he says, ‘and when I come to Daycare I meet my friends. It’s really good!’
Carole Slawson says, ‘We encourage our Daycare patients to become involved in art. Many of them find it a great way to express themselves, and they produce some excellent work. We are delighted that York District Hospital is hosting this exhibition, which means that many more people can see our patients’ work. We have some artworks on show in the Hospice, too, and they make a colourful and interesting display.’
• The St Leonard’s Hospice Daycare patients’ art is on show at York District Hospital until 23 June.
LONG-SERVING ROSEMARY AND FAMILY TACKLING MIDNIGHT WALK
14 April 2010
Rosemary Thompson, the longest-serving member of staff at York’s St Leonard’s Hospice, will be joined by her sons, daughter-in-law and two grandchildren to walk the six and a half miles of the Hospice’s Midnight Walk in Saturday 19 June – and they will be among the first to follow a new route through the city centre.
This is the 25th anniversary year of the opening of St Leonard’s, but Rosemary joined the team even before that. She has had many roles, and is now the Hospice’s Bereavement Care Co-ordinator, looking after the families of people who have died in St Leonard’s. This is part of the Hospice’s continuing care for patients and their families.
She will be joined on this year’s Midnight Walk by her sons her family, including her grandchildren Penny (9) and Ioana (6). They will all enjoy a new route through the centre of York, which for the first time will pass beside York Minster.
The Midnight Walk starts and finishes at York College on Sim Balk Lane not far from the Hospice. Everyone, of any age, is welcome to join in, but anyone who is 16 or under must be supervised by an adult at all times.
Walkers will check in at York College between 10.30 pm and 11.30 pm. The circular walk begins at 12.00 midnight, following pavements and cycle paths around the centre of York. It will be led throughout. There is a charge of £10.00 for each walker – 16 or under, £5.00 – and everyone is being encouraged to get sponsorship. All the proceeds will go towards the £3.2 million annual cost of running St Leonard’s, which makes no charges to its patients or their families.
Helen Moreton, a member of the Fundraising Team at St Leonard’s Hospice, says, ‘In our Silver Jubilee year it’s very appropriate that Rosemary is taking part in the Midnight Walk – and we are delighted that her children and grandchildren are joining her. The Walk is a really special occasion, and we know that lots of people will want to join with Rosemary and her family on 19 June.’
HOSPICE SAYS ‘COME AND CHEER DRAGON BOATS’ IN OUR JUBILEE YEAR
13 April 2010
Staff from York’s St Leonard’s Hospice will be among those cheering loudest as the competitors line up for the 2010 York Rotary Dragon Boat Challenge on Sunday 11 July 2010, because the event will this year raise funds for the Hospice in its Silver Jubilee year.
The first York Dragon Boat Challenge in 2003, run like all subsequent ones by The Rotary Club of York, raised many thousands of pounds for St Leonard’s, and to mark 25 years of caring for local people, The Club has again chosen the Hospice for this.
The funds raised will go towards the new development in the Hospice’s care. A pilot Hospice@Home service sees specially-trained Hospice staff providing their palliative care skills in patients’ own homes.
All the team places for this year’s York Rotary Dragon Boat Challenge have been taken – there were 47 teams vying for just 36 places, underlining the popularity of the event and fifteen will be racing for the first time. All the team members raise sponsorship, with a third of it going to the nominated charity – this year St Leonard’s Hospice – and the rest to a charity of their choosing. Some teams have elected to give all their sponsorship money to the Hospice in this Jubilee Year.
Now the Hospice and the Rotary Club are urging everyone who can to line the banks of the River Ouse between Lendal Bridge and Scarborough Bridge to cheer on the teams and enjoy the carnival atmosphere on 11 July. Dragon Boat races originated in China, and an innovation this year will be Kite Flying in Museum Gardens, to make it even more of a Chinese day out.
Janet Morley, Director of Fundraising at St Leonard’s Hospice, says, ’York Rotary’s Dragon Boat Races are always a spectacular sight, and once again this year they have a special meaning for St Leonard’s. We are immensely grateful that in our Jubilee Year the Hospice has been chosen as this year’s charity for the event. Please come along and encourage the teams as they race, and help the Hospice – it’s a great day out!’
Ian Stockley, President of York Rotary says, ‘St Leonards was the unanimous choice of the club and I know that the Hospice will also be well supported by the York community. Since our first event in 2003 the teams have raised nearly £460,000 for more than 130 different charities and I'm confident that we'll break the half million barrier this year.’
NFU MUTUAL HELPS HOSPICE PREPARE FOR 20th CHALLENGE WALK
13 April 2010
St Leonard’s Hospice is marking two anniversaries this year – its Silver Jubilee and the 20th time that the St Leonard’s Way Challenge Walk is being held – and it is getting support for both from a new sponsor, NFU Mutual.
The Ebor branch of NFU Mutual, which offers insurance and financial services, is suppoirting St Leonard’s throughout the year as it marks 25 years of caring for local people with life-threatening illnesses. And some of its staff members are putting their best feet forward by taking part in the 20-mile Challenge Walk, which takes place on Saturday 1 May. NFU is sponsoring new Challenge Walk tee-shirts that will be offered to all the walkers – up to 200 of them.
The St Leonard’s Way Challenge Walk was first held on 5 May 1990, when the Hospice had been open for just five years. The route the first walkers – there were just over 40 of them – took that day has changed little over the years. The walk begins and ends at Haworth and takes a scenic, circular route via Hebden Bridge. The inaugural walk raised more than £1,400; over the years the income has grown steadily, with a total of almost £200,000 going towards the work of St Leonard’s.
Janet Morley, Director of Fundraising at St Leonard’s Hospice, says, ‘The St Leonard’s Way Challenge Walk has been one of our most enduring fundraising events, and we are very grateful to everyone who over the years has risen to the challenge! We are especially pleased that this year NFU Mutual is sponsoring our special tee-shirts for the event, as part of its commitment to the work of the Hospice in its Jubilee Year.’
A few places are still available for this year’s 20th-anniversary Challenge Walk; full details and entry forms are available by calling St Leonard’s Hospice Fundraising Centre on 01904 77 77 77 or on the Hospice’s website – www.stleonardshospice.org.uk. The closing date for entries is 23 April; no entries are allowed on the day of the walk.
YORK HOSPICE GETS GRANT TO IMPROVE PATIENTS’ FACILITIES
2 April 2010
Patients and carers at York’s St Leonard’s Hospice will benefit from improved facilities thanks to a direct capital grant from to the Department of Health through Help the Hospices worth almost £162,000.
The Hospice applied for the capital grant to improve facilities, which will ensure all the funds it raises in the community will continue to be spent on care for patients both in the Hospice, in Daycare, attending an out-patient clinic or as part of the Hospice@Home pilot project it is currently running in the community.
Included in the new facilities will be a new bathroom for day care patients, large enough to allow for hoists and wheelchairs to be used effectively, an additional consulting room, improved waiting area and disabled toilet facilities for the out-patient clinic area.
There will also be specialist independent, ‘wheelchair-friendly’ showering and toilet facilities for the in-patient unit, the replacement of existing specialist flooring for clinical areas and a replacement of many specialist beds and mattresses for in patients.
Martyn Callaghan, Chief Executive of St Leonard’s Hospice says, ‘We are delighted to be given this capital grant by the Department of Health for our ‘Independence and Dignity project’. The grant must be spent directly on the improvement of Hospice facilities; unfortunately it cannot be used towards running costs.
We asked patients, carers and staff how we could improve the independence and dignity for patients and we provided this information to the Department of Health as part of our application. This funding does not come from the local Primary Care Trust but as a ‘one-off direct grant’. We are committed to improving and enhancing services to patients and this project greatly supports our work.’
- St Leonard’s Hospice is celebrating 25 years of serving the York and North Yorkshire community. It will cost 3.2 million pounds this year to provide services to local people.
GOLF TIPS ADD TO NEW COMEDY’S AUTHENTICITY
30 March 2010
There’ll be no lack of realism when a new comedy by internationally-recognised dramatist Peter Gordon takes to the stage in York just after Easter, thanks to the city’s Pike Hills Golf Club.
Peter’s play, ‘Par for the Course’, will raise funds for York’s St Leonard’s Hospice, and is about the comic results of Captain’s Day at the fictional Seven Lakes club. As director Peter has taken the cast to Pike Hills, where he is a member, to soak up the local atmosphere and practise their golfing techniques – though he stresses that the characters and the situations they get into certainly did not have their origin in the Pike Hills club.
As the comedy opens, it’s Captain's Day at the Seven Lakes Golf Club and it gets off to a bad start. The men's Captain phones in sick. The Club secretary, Simon, relishes the chance to take over but is soon thwarted by the arrival of Vice Captain, Nick and his girlfriend, Tiffany. Lady Captain, Fran, and enthusiastic but hopeless Barry add to the confusion as a series of disasters mount. With the unexpected arrival of Simon's wife, Laura, tensions build and things go from bad to worse.
To thank local golfers for their help, ‘Par for the Course’ will, in addition to its main performances at York College, also be performed ‘on-site’ at Pike Hills Golf Club and at Fulford Golf Club – both regular supporters of St Leonard’s Hospice, to which all the proceeds from the play will be given.
Peter Gordon was born in York and is the founder and artistic director of the locally-recruited Piggyback Theatre Company in the city, which is performing ‘Par for the Course’. His plays are performed around the world. Among them are the 'Inspector Pratt' trilogy which consists of ‘Murdered to Death’, ‘Secondary Cause of Death’ and ‘Death by Fatal Murder, which have had four professional tours and productions in the UK and USA, with another four planned for this year and next. They have also had over 750 amateur productions in the UK and overseas, including USA, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.
‘Par for the Course’ is being performed at the Alan Ayckbourn Theatre, York College, Tadcaster Road, on 8, 9 and 10 April at 7.30pm, with a matinee at 2.30pm on 10 April. Tickets, which cost £9.00 (concessions £7.00) can be obtained from the box office at York’s Theatre Royal.
WALK MARSTON MOOR BATTLEFIELD FOR THE HOSPICE
29 March 2010
An English Civil War soldier is preparing to take visitors round Marston Moor, one of the most famous Civil War battlefields, to raise funds for York’s St Leonard’s Hospice.
The ‘Marston Moor Guided Battlefield Walk & Cream Teas’ takes place on Sunday 9 May, and will be led by Russell Marwood, Battlefields Project Officer at York Archaeological Trust, who will be dressed in full uniform. He will talk about the personalities and events of the Battle, which took place on 2 July 1644. He will also show the weapons the armies used and will lead the walk to show where the Royalists and Parliamentarians took up their positions in the battle.
The Walk has been organised by Joanne Smakman, whose family farms on the battlefield at Marston Grange, where the walk will start. She hopes to raise funds for St Leonard’s Hospice, which cared for her brother-in-law John Shepherd.
As well as arranging for Russell’s walk, Joanne has asked Long Marston History Society to put on displays and there will be a raffle and book and plant stalls at the farm. After the walk, cream teas will be served.
Janet Morley, Director of Fundraising at St Leonard’s Hospice, says, ‘This is a great chance to learn more about this important battle – one that took place on our doorstep. We are really grateful to Joanne for organising the event, and to Russell for agreeing to lead it. It’s sure to prove a fascinating afternoon, and will raise funds for the work of the Hospice, too.’
Tickets for the event cost £12 (£8 under 16) and include the walk and tea. They should be obtained in advance from Joanne Smakman on 0798 420 1498 or by e-mail: david.smakman@unicombox.com
LENNY PUTS ON THE STYLE FOR FASHION SHOW
26 March 2010
St Leonard’s Hospice mascot Lenny Bear is helping the models for the Hospice’s ‘Step Out in Style’ Fashion Show on Wednesday 14 April to choose their outfits for the event, which marks the charity’s 25th anniversary.
Lenny has been at the Hospice’s Acomb shop to admire its new Couture area and look over the stock from all five of the shops that raise funds for the Hospice. They are pooling their fashion resources for the show, which takes place at the Gateway Centre in Front Street, Acomb. There will be a wide range of fashion clothes and accessories on show, from casual to smart. All the items in the show have been donated, and will be for sale at excellent prices.
The models are all volunteers – a mix of Hospice shops’ customers and staff who are happy to add their own glamour on the catwalk. It’s rumoured that Lenny himself might make a special appearance at the show.
There are just a few tickets remaining for ‘Step Out in Style’ which starts at 7.00 pm. They cost £5.00 and include light refreshments. They are on sale from all the St Leonard’s Hospice shops, from Reception at the Hospice in Tadcaster Road (office hours only) or by calling the Hospice Fundraising Centre on 01904 77 77 77.
Helen Moreton, Retail Manager at St Leonard’s, says, ‘Lenny is getting very excited about the show, and he is keen to help our models choose exactly the right outfits so we can celebrate the work of our shops. Come along to see some great bargains and help us celebrate 25 years of St Leonard’s Hospice.’
LENNY BEAR HELPS BARLOW PRIMARY CHILDREN PREPARE FOR HOSPICE BIRTHDAY WALK
24 March 2010
The 57 children at Barlow Church of England Primary School near Selby are getting ready to help York’s St Leonard’s Hospice with a fundraising walk – and the Hospice mascot Lenny Bear is helping them get ready.
Barlow Primary is one of the schools that have signed up to take part in the Hospice’s ‘Birthday Walks’ during June to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the opening of St Leonard’s in 1985. Schools plan their walks within their own grounds or in the local area, and can involve parents and grandparents or the wider local community. Lenny Bear has promised to lead as many of the walks as he can.
Everyone who walks will be sponsored, and half the money raised will be donated to the Hospice, while the rest goes to the school. To help the schools, St Leonard’s will provide posters, sponsor forms, name stickers and certificates, and there will be information about the Hospice suitable for both children and adults. A member of the Hospice staff (in addition to Lenny!) will also be at the walks.
Sarah Atkinson, Community Fundraiser at St Leonard’s, says, ‘We hope that lots of school – and all sorts of other community groups, too, - will join our Birthday Walks as Barlow Primary School has generously done. The month of June will be busy for the Hospice as we celebrate our Silver Jubilee, and we are all looking forward to lots of good weather for our many events, including all the Birthday Walks’.
CHRISTMAS CARD FUNDS DONATED TO HOSPICE
20 March 2010
Shelley Davis (centre) and Alison Thompson (left) from Independent Home Living, York present a cheque for £100 to The Hospice’s Director of Fundraising Janet Morley. Independent Home Living, which has offices in York' s Heworth Road
aims to provide high quality personal, domestic, and social care and support for those wishing to remain in their homes. They donated the money in lieu of sending Christmas cards to their clients.
POLICEMAN HELPS HOSPICE FASHION SHOW TO ‘MOVE ALONG’
2 March 2010
Fashion from the five shops that raise funds for York’s St Leonard’s Hospice will be on show on Wednesday 14 April at a special event to mark the charity’s 25th anniversary
The show, ‘Step Out in Style’, takes place at the Gateway Centre in Front Street, Acomb, and will feature a wide range of fashion clothes and accessories, from the most casual to the dressiest. All the items in the show have been donated, and will be for sale at excellent prices.
To make sure that the show proceeds in an orderly fashion, the compère for the evening will be York-based Police Constable Howard Smelt-Webb, who is well-known for his community work and is no stranger to presenting events.
Helen Moreton, Retail Manager at St Leonard’s, says, ‘Howard is exactly the right man to keep our Fashion Show ‘moving along’ with wit and humour, and we’re delighted he’s agreed to help us.
‘Our shops, in Acomb, Haxby, Pocklington, Scarcroft Road and Tang Hall, have been contributing to our work for almost as long as the Hospice has been open. This Fashion Show is a celebration of their work and gives a chance for everyone to see some of the wonderful stock that our supporters provide for us, and the great bargains that are available. Come along and help us celebrate 25 years of St Leonard’s Hospice, and discover what’s on offer at our fantastic shops!’
Tickets for the ‘Step Out in Style’ Fashion Show, which starts at 7.00 pm, cost £5.00 and include light refreshments, are limited. They are on sale from all the St Leonard’s Hospice shops, from Reception at the Hospice in Tadcaster Road (office hours only) or by calling the Hospice Fundraising Centre on 01904 77 77 77.
EGGS AND RABBITS HELP HOSPICE AT EASTER
19 February 2010
St Leonard’s Hospice has dispatched 150 large Easter eggs – as well as some fluffy rabbits - to pubs, clubs, shops offices and organisations to help the Hospice raise funds.
Now in its ninth year, the Hospice’s Easter Egg competition has already proved a success around the area and raised thousands of pounds for the work of the Hospice.
The eggs and rabbits will be on display at each venue, and to enter the competition players choose one of the numbered squares on the game board.Each square costs £1, and the name and phone number of the player are entered on the square they choose.When all the squares are full, the winning number, which has been chosen at random and placed in a sealed envelope, is revealed.
Jean Cross of St Leonard’s Hospice Fundraising team, says, ‘Helping the Hospice in this way in the run-up to Easter is an excellent way of helping the Hospice.Make sure you choose at least one square, and you may be lucky!’
HOSPICE CALLS FOR RUNNERS IN YORK AND KIELDER
17 February 2010
York’s St Leonard’s Hospice is calling on runners to help in its 25th Anniversary year by signing up for two runs – the 10-kilometre Jane Tomlinson York 10K in York in August and the new Kielder Marathon in October – and raise sponsorship for its work.
Keen runner Laura Moreton has already signed up for the Jane Tomlinson York 10K, which is being held on Sunday 1 August – and so have her mother Helen, who is Retail Manager at St Leonard’s Hospice, and her father Colin. Laura and Helen are now hoping that plenty more people will sign up for the race and raise money for the Hospice.
They can also apply for a place in the new Kielder Marathon, launched at the beginning of this month by athlete Steve Cram. The full marathon route follows the edge of Kielder Water, Europe’s largest man-made lake, and promises to be Britain’s most beautiful marathon course. The event takes place on Sunday 17 October.
Helen Moreton says, ‘These two runs offer the chance to raise funds for the work of St Leonard’s Hospice in our Jubilee year. If you’re a runner, please consider applying for either – or both! – of these runs, and getting sponsorship for us. We can supply special St Leonard’s Hospice tee-shirts, and help with sponsor forms and other practicalities. It would be great to have at least 25 people running for us in our 25th year!
• To find out more about the Jane Tomlinson York 10K see www.runforall.com/york and for the Kielder Marathon see www.visitkielder.com/site/kielder-marathon.
HOSPICE SHARES SKILLS WITH NURSING HOMES STAFF
17 October 2010
Specialist staff from York’s St Leonard’s Hospice are to share their knowledge and experience of caring for people at the end of their lives with staff in the region’s nursing homes as part of a innovative training scheme.
A collaborative venture between St Leonard’s Hospice and North Yorkshire’s other hospices, Saint Catherine’s in Scarborough and Saint Michael’s, Harrogate, the scheme will mean that 200 care assistants and registered nurses from nursing homes across North Yorkshire and the City of York will be able to access high-quality End of Life care education and training over the next 12 months.
The scheme is supported both by NHS North Yorkshire and York and by the Yorkshire Cancer Network. The training will be delivered throughout North Yorkshire and the City of York locations and will include the principles of palliative and End of Life care, advanced care planning, symptom control and communication.
Martyn Callaghan, Chief Executive of St Leonard’s Hospice, says: ‘A fifth of us will spend the end of our lives living in a nursing home, the patient must be at the centre of everything we do so it is important that the staff who will look after us are fully trained to provide top-quality End of Life care. St Leonard’s has twenty-five years’ experience in caring for people as they approach the end of their life, and we are pleased to join with our colleagues at St Catherine’s and St Michaels’s to share our specialist knowledge with nursing home staff.‘
For more information about the training programme, please contact St Leonard’s Hospice on 01904 708553.
HOSPICE MARKS 25 YEARS WITH CAKE
11 February 2010
Twenty-five years to the day after the first in-patients were admitted to St Leonard's Hospice, staff celebrated with a special Jubilee cake cooked in the Hospice kitchen. The main events to mark the Jubilee will take place later in the year.
HOSPICE HAS WAYS TO MAKE A WEDDING EVEN SWEETER
11 February 2010
Brides-to-be and their grooms will be able to sample ‘Fudge Favours’ at the Wedding Fair in aid of St Leonard’s Hospice at the Parsonage Hotel in Escrick Sunday 21 February 2010 – thanks to the Fudge Kitchen.
The fudge specialists, based in York’s Low Petergate, will be at the Fair with a wide range of fudges, ideal for wedding favours, whether presented as simple twists or in larger boxes, all specially wrapped to match the wedding colour scheme. They can also take orders for complete fudge wedding cakes.
As well as the fudge, the Wedding Fair includes everything a bride and groom might need for the great day. Exhibitors include specialist balloon company Balloons by Design, Susan Forth Wedding Gowns, All Occasions Florists and videographer Videomem, as well as photographers and suppliers of cars and stationery.
The Parsonage Hotel Wedding Fair is open from 11.00 am to 4.00 pm on 21 February, and entry is free. All the proceeds from the Fair will go to St Leonard’s Hospice in York, which is marking its Silver Jubilee this year.
Judith Wilson, Community Fundraiser at St Leonard’s Hospice, says, ‘What better way to say ‘thank you!’ to your wedding guests than with a fudge favour? They are just one of the many exciting ways that the Wedding Fair can show you how to make a wedding day perfect – and you’ll be helping the work of the Hospice, too. We look forward to welcoming lots of brides, grooms – and friends – at the Fair on 21 February.’
PORTASTOR AWARD WINNERS DONATE CASH PRIZE TO CHARITY
9 February 2010
St. Leonard’s Hospice in York received an unexpected £750 donation from Portastor this week after its Fabrication, Painting and Machine shop in Huntington scooped the top accolade in the company’s annual safety awards.
Peter Cross, Operations Manager at Portastor, says, “Part of the reason that the team won the award this year was that they excelled at spotting potential safety issues and dealing with them before they ever became a problem. We’re all delighted with the recognition and it’s also great to be able to support the local hospice.”
The awards recognise safety-related performance at work. They take into account scheduled safety meetings, initiatives such as the ‘Don’t Walk By’ campaign to reduce accidents, and the absence of incidents in the workplace.
Janet Morley, Director of Fundraising at St. Leonard’s Hospice, says, “I’m very pleased that the winning team at Portastor has chosen to support us this year. St. Leonard’s is a voluntary service, and we never make a charge to our patients or their families, so this generous donation will help us to continue our care in this, our 25th anniversary year. As always, I’d like to say a big thank you to everyone involved for their support - and special congratulations and thanks to Portastor.”
Portastor is a division of Portasilo, a sister company of Portakabin.
UNIVERSITY JAZZ ENSEMBLE TO PLAY AT HOSPICE SUNFLOWER BALL
27 January 2010
Revellers at the Hospice Sunflower Ball, being held at York Racecourse on Saturday 24 April, will have the sounds of jazz to encourage them to dance, thanks to the University of York Jazz Ensemble, which is playing at the reception during the evening.
Ensemble leader Zezo Olimpio will be on the piano, and will be joined by trumpeter Matt Postle, trombonist Noah Nouch and saxophonist Joe Murgatroyd, with Gareth Taitt on bass and Dave Smyth on drums.
The musicians will be just one of the highlights at the Sunflower Ball, which is held every two years and is one of the major fundraising events for York’s St Leonard’s Hospice. In 2008 the event raised more than £70,000. It is organised for the Hospice by a dynamic committee of volunteers. They have already sold all the tickets – more than 500 of them – three months before the event.
To ensure that the Ball raises as much as possible for the Hospice, the Committee is still looking for extra sponsorship and for top-quality prizes. There are plenty of opportunities to sponsor the evening’s activities, ranging from the casino or the flowers for £1,000, through £500 for balloons to £200 for the dance floor or disco - and lots in between. Anyone who can help should contact St Leonard’s Hospice Fundraising Centre on 01904 77 77 77.
Janet Morley, Director of Fundraising at St Leonard’s Hospice, says, ‘Jazz is an integral part of the Sunflower Ball, and we are very grateful to Zezo and his colleagues for playing for the event, as they did so successfully in 2008. And we are delighted that the members of the Ball Committee continue to be so enthusiastically committed to the event. Their energy is unbounded and the Ball is sure to be a fabulous evening.’
COSTCUTTER STORES UP FUNDS FOR HOSPICE
27 January 2010
The Costcutter store on Bramham Avenue in Acomb is raising funds for York’s St Leonard’s Hospice with a continuing series of product promotions, and has already raised more than £250 for the charity.
Over the last few weeks the store has been taking part in Costcutter’s ‘Making a Difference Locally’. A number of products were chosen each week, and for each one sold the company donated a set amount to a local charity.
Chris Wilson, Manager of the Bramham Avenue store, has chosen to present the money raised there to St Leonard’s Hospice, as a local charity that cares for local people and their families. Hospice Community Fundraiser Sarah Atkinson will be at the store to be handed the cheque for the first donation on WEDNESDAY 27 JANUARY.
Sarah says, ‘Chris, his staff and customers are all working together on this brilliant promotion, which has already raised a great amount for our work. We are very grateful to Costcutter and everyone who is helping.’
GOLF COMEDY TO HELP HOSPICE
20 January 2010
Internationally-recognised dramatist Peter Gordon is getting tips at his local golf club for a new play that will raise funds for York’s St Leonard’s Hospice when it is performed in April
Peter, who is based in York, is a member of Pike Hills Golf Club. His play, ‘Par for the Course’, is about the comic results of Captain’s Day at the fictional Seven Lakes club. The Captain phones in sick and other members vie for glory – but meet a series of mounting disasters.
Tickets are on sale for the play, which is being performed by locally-recruited members of Peter’s Piggyback Theatre Company at the Alan Ayckbourn Theatre, York College, Tadcaster Road, on 8, 9 and 10 April at 7.30pm, with a matinee at 2.30pm on 10 April. Tickets, which cost £9.00 (concessions £7.00) can be obtained from the box office at York’s Theatre Royal, St Leonard’s Place. All proceeds will be donated to St Leonard’s.
There will also be special performances of ‘Par for the Course’ at Pike Hills Golf Club and at Fulford Golf Club – both regular supporters of the Hospice.
Peter Gordon’s plays are performed around the world and he is particularly well known for his trilogy of whodunnit spoofs featuring the inept Inspector Pratt. He is the founder and artistic director of Piggyback, a York-based, voluntary, not-for-profit theatre company.
Sarah Atkinson, Community Fundraiser at St Leonard’s Hospice says, ‘We’ve had a sneak preview of the script for Peter’s play, which is very funny – even if you know nothing about golf – so we hope that everyone will rush to the box office for tickets. We are very grateful to Peter and to his cast for supporting St Leonard’s in this wonderful way!’
BIG BREAKFAST AT THORNTON-LE-CLAY WILL HELP HOSPICE
18 January 2010
Breakfast in Thornton-le-Clay will be a special event on Sunday 24 January, when the village hall will be the venue for a Big Breakfast in aid of York’s St Leonard’s Hospice.
Local residents Sue Jones and Jackie Farnell have cooked up the fundraising idea for the breakfast, and invite everyone along for a great cooked breakfast for just £5.00 – or a continental breakfast at just £3.50. They have received local sponsorship for the food, so the event will be able to raise even more for the work of the Hospice, where Sue’s mother was cared for. To help with catering, anyone intending to join the Big Breakfast is asked to ring 01653 619082 or 619001 in advance. Payment can be made on the door.
Janet Morley, Director of Fundraising at St Leonard’s Hospice, says, ‘A Sunday breakfast cooked by someone else is a wonderful idea – and we know that lots of people in and around Thornton-le-Clay – and from further afield, too – will be at the village hall to support Sue and Jackie. We are very grateful to them for organising their Big Breakfast to raise money for us.’
HOSPICE CHAIRMAN UNDERTAKES HOSPICE’S NEPAL TREK
13 January 2010
Graham Millar, Chairman of the Trustees of York’s St Leonard’s Hospice is definitely leading from the front as he takes part in a trek in Nepal later this year to mark the Hospice’s 25th anniversary.
A regular walker who has trekked in Nepal before, Graham is being accompanied on the trek, which is in Bhara Pokari in Nepal from 28 October to 7 November 2010, by his wife Margaret and her daughter Lucy Robertson – neither of whom have experienced high altitude trekking before. Along with them will be a group of other Hospice supporters, including St Leonard’s Director of Fundraising Janet Morley and her husband Phil, and people aged from their 20s to their 60s. Everyone who goes on the trek is guaranteeing to raise sponsorship of at least £1,000 for the work of the Hospice.
Margaret Millar says, ‘Trekking in Nepal isn’t something I’d ever considered before, but I’m really looking forward to the experience, and all that fantastic scenery.’ Margaret’s mother and Graham’s first wife were both cared for by St Leonard’s, so all three family members feel a special closeness to the Hospice.
Janet Morley says, ‘It’s really great that Graham and Margaret are joining us on the trek; knowing that we have the genuine support, in such a practical way, of our Chairman of Trustees is a brilliant example to everyone at St Leonard’s. There’s still time for other people to join us on the trek for the adventure of a lifetime – and to help the Hospice continue its work of caring for local people and their families after this Jubilee year.’
The Nepal trek is organised by specialists Community Action Treks (CAT), who ensure that the trek also helps support the local Nepali people. The trek will follow mountain paths with views of some of the highest of the Himalayan peaks. The trekkers will walk for anything between four and eight hours, passing through lush forest and by thundering waterfalls and raging rivers. There are also visits to some of the projects that CAT is helping, with the chance to meet local people and explore the rich Nepali culture.
Accommodation is in robust two-person tents (put up and taken down by the organisers) with foam mattresses and substantial meals. Luggage is transported, and en route there is plenty of time for rest and taking photographs.
Participants pay the cost of getting to Nepal and back, and of the trek itself. A weekend of training in the Lake District from 16 to 18 July 2010 is included in the price.
• More information about the Trek
FREEMASONS OF ALCUIN LODGE, YORK, DONATE ALMOST £3000 TO ST. LEONARD’S HOSPICE
13 January 2010
The Master of Alcuin Lodge, Steven Helsdon, accompanied by his Charity Steward Simon Simpson and Bro. Ray Theakston, visited the St. Leonard’s Hospice to present a donation of £2,965.00 to Janet Morley, Director of Fundraising, on behalf of the Freemasons’Grand Charity, which is based in London.
The total amount given to five hospices in the Province of Yorkshire North & East Ridings by the Freemasons’ Grand Charity for 2009 amounts to more than £11,000. This donation is in addition to funds already given to hospices by Freemasons in local areas of the Province.
Throughout 2009 the Freemasons’ Grand Charity has continued its extensive support for hospices across England and Wales, donating a total of £500,000. Over the last 24 years it has awarded more than £8 million to hospice services. All donations are raised by Freemasons and their families and aim to assist hospices in their vital role in helping those affected by terminal or life-limiting illness.
SOUL AND MOTOWN EVENT TO HELP THE HOSPICE
7 January 2010
Northern Soul and Motown will be raising funds for York’s St Leonard’s Hospice at a special evening at Huntington Working Men’s Club (WMC) on Saturday 16 January.
Organised by local DJs Mike Ward and Andy Hudson, the event offers the chance for everyone to enjoy the music and take to the fully-sprung dance floor in what promises to be a fun evening. Mike and Andy will be joined by DJs Pete Jay and Little Ave from the Manifesto Soul Club in Knottingley and Andy Bellwood of the Tadcaster-based North Yorkshire Soul Club. All the DJs are donating their time, and the WMC, in North Moor Road, Huntington, is supporting the event.
Tickets for the Northern Soul and Motown Revue, which runs from 8.00 pm to 1.00 am on Saturday 16 January, cost £5.00 and are available at the WMC or by phoning 01904 441428 or 340764. All the proceeds from the evening, which will include a raffle, will be donated to the Hospice.
Janet Morley, Director of Fundraising at St Leonard’s, says, ‘In cold weather what could be better to warm up with than an energetic evening of Northern Soul and Motown? We are very grateful to Mike and Andy for organising this special event, to their fellow DJs for donating their time, and to Huntington WMC for their support. We know that lots of supporters will want to go along and strut their stuff!’
GUIDES AND BROWNIES RAISE BAGS OF FUNDS FOR ST LEONARD'S
5 January 2010
Rangers in Pocklington have raised £2320 for the work of St Leonard's Hospice. They held several events, including bag packing at Asda a non-uniform day and a badge sale.
Their magnificent total was rasied as part of the Guides and Brownies 'Changing the World' project. Many local groups had interactive talks about St Leonard's Hospice in 2009, and have made some wonderful gifts for the patients,including a hand-made advent calendar, flower pots and sunflower table decorations.
In all, local Guides and Brownies have raised £2795 through their various fundraising events. Sarah Atkinson Community Fundraisier at the Hospice says, 'Congratulations and a big 'Well done!' to everyone and a big thumbs up from the Hospice mascot Lenny Bear. We really appreciate all the hard work that has been put into the changing the world project not only from the young people themselves but also the leaders who give up their time for nothing.'
