HOTEL WEDDING FAIR HELPS ST LEONARD’S HOSPICE
29 June 2009
A classic white open-top car complete with 1920s-style chauffeur is a brides’ dream – and the vehicle, from Romantic Classics Wedding Cars of Selby, is just one of the ways in which a special Wedding Fair at the Marriott Hotel on Tadcaster Road in York on Sunday 26 July will help brides-to-be and their grooms – and York’s St Leonard’s Hospice as well.
The Fair, which will be open to the public from 11.00 am to 4.00 pm, will include lots of ideas for helping that special day to be perfect, including photographers, florists, makers of wedding favours and suppliers of wedding accessories and stationery. There will be special bridal fashion shows during the day.
All money raised from the Wedding Fair will go to help St Leonard’s Hospice to provide care for patients and their families. Admission to the Fair is free.
There is time for exhibitors to book space at the Wedding Fair – though there are no more places for photographers.
Judith Wilson, Community Fundraiser at St Leonard’s Hospice, says ‘Getting to the church on time is vital for a wedding, so a classic car will be high on the list for brides-to-be and their fiancés when they visit our Wedding Fair at the Marriott. It’s a brilliant opportunity to get inspiration for a wedding, and we are grateful to the staff of the Marriott and to all our exhibitors for their hard work and generous help.’
M&S BIKERS PEDAL HARD TO RAISE HOSPICE FUNDS
24 June 2009
Staff at Marks & Spencer’s Monks Cross store are making a last big push during their 125-day fundraising campaign for the city’s St Leonard’s Hospice by pedalling hard on exercise bikes.
Each member of staff is being sponsored for the event at the store, and the organisers hope to add to the total raised for the Hospice, which is already approaching £2,500. The exercise bile challenge is taking place over two days, and 24 staff members will take part, each pedalling for half-an-hour at a stretch.
This is one of the last of the store’s large fundraising events, which have also included a re-creation of the original Marks Penny Bazaar and senior staff taking over the service in the store’s Café Revive. Fundraising will continue with dress-down days for staff and with sales of cakes by employees.
Janet Morley, Director of Fundraising at St Leonard’s Hospice, says, ‘The M&S staff at Monks Cross have put in a great deal of effort to their fundraising, and none more than this very energetic exercise bike ride. We are really grateful to them for their hard work and enthusiasm.’
‘LOVELIES’ LOOK TO LENNY AS THEY PREPARE FOR DRAGON BOAT CHALLENGE
22 June 2009
St Leonard’s’ Hospice mascot Lenny Bear is donning a life-jacket to help his team – ‘Lenny’s Lovelies’ – by demonstrating good paddling technique as they get ready for the York Rotary Dragon Boat Challenge on Sunday 12 July.
The sixteen members of the Hospice team – including members of the nursing, catering housekeeping and fundraising departments – are preparing again to do battle with 35 other crews on the River Ouse between Scarborough Bridge and Lendal Bridge.
As in previous years they don’t expect to be anywhere near the winners’ podium, because they know that the competition will be stiff. They are, though, very willing to ‘have a go’ to raise money for St Leonard’s, and they are very grateful to have been given a place in a keenly-contested race.
Lenny’s Lovelies are seeking as much sponsorship as possible for all their hard work, with two-thirds of the team’s proceeds going to the work of the Hospice – the other third goes to the charities nominated for this year by York Rotary Club, which organises the Dragon Boat Challenge. The Hospice is grateful, too, that a number of other teams in the Challenge have nominated St Leonard’s to receive some of the money they have raised, too.
Janet Morley, Director of Fundraising at St Leonard’s Hospice, says, ‘Our ‘trainer’ Lenny Bear tells us that, with lots more practice, Lenny’s Lovelies could do well! The team is certainly keen to do as well as possible and to raise lots of money for our work.’
MINI MAKEOVER AT ST LEONARD'S HOSPICE
22 June 2009
St Leonard’s Hospice’s garden and reception area received a make-over last week when a team from CPP stepped in to lend a hand by painting walls and digging flower beds.
The 28-strong commercial team, made up of product and marketing experts, took time out of the office to undertake the project at the hospice after being introduced to St Leonard’s Hospice by the employee-volunteering charity, York Cares.
Angela Hardy, one of CPP’s volunteers and organisers of the event said “We wanted to choose a project that everyone could be involved in to make a difference to other people’s lives. The project is totally different to our normal everyday work and we all really enjoyed working together as a team and helping out at St Leonard’s Hospice”.
St Leonard’s Hospice is a registered charity caring for people with life-threatening illnesses offering day care at the Hospice for people living in their own homes and in-patient palliative care in a purpose-built unit with 20 beds.
Janet Morley from St Leonard’s Hospice said: “We are really grateful to the CPP team who came down to help out at the hospice and for making such a fantastic environment for our patients and families”.
This is the second ‘volunteering away day’ arranged by York Cares for teams at CPP. Residents at Mill Lodge Community Unit received a garden makeover from the 35-strong finance team at CPP in September 2008.
HOSPICE PROUD OF FIVE STARS ‘ON THE DOORS’ FOR ITS CATERING
19 June 2009
St Leonard’s Hospice is celebrating winning a maximum of five stars in City of York Council’s ‘Scores on the Doors’ food hygiene scheme.
The Hospice, which is approaching its 25th anniversary, has always been noted for the high quality of its food, and has now achieved an impartial endorsement of its hygiene standards as well. The inspection by Council officials looked at how well the Hospice handles, prepares and stores food, checked that the premises were clean and in good repair, and assessed how well the Hospice should be able to maintain and improve its high standards.
Steve Harrison, Support and Development Manager at St Leonard’s and for many years the Hospice’s Catering Manager, says, ‘We are very pleased that we have achieved a full five-star rating from the Council. It’s obviously particularly important in the Hospice that we have the best possible standards of hygiene, and it is a tribute to all the catering staff, both paid and volunteer, that they scrupulously follow the strict code we have in place. We are committed to maintaining these high standards, and to continue to produce the best and most appetising food possible for our patients – good food and good hygiene go hand in hand like a good marriage.’
Martyn Callaghan, Chief Executive of St Leonard’s, says, ‘It is a great tribute to the many years of hard work put in by Steve and his colleagues that we have won this accolade. We always have very favourable comments on the quality of the food we serve in the Hospice, and now we can proudly display the evidence that the behind-the-scenes work that produces it is just as good!’
SUNFLOWER TREE BLOOMS FOR HOSPICE IN ST HELEN’S SQUARE
15 June 2009
A ‘Sunflower Tree’ sprang up in York’s St Helen’s Square today to celebrate the work of St Leonard’s Hospice and to mark the national Hospice Month.
Vertigrow Plant Nursery in Malton Road, York is lending the Hospice a 15-foot tree for a week, to stand in the centre of the square, outside the Mansion House. From its branches hang sunflower shapes coloured by visitors to the Hospice’s Summer Fair at the beginning of June, by Brownies and other local children and by patients in the Hospice’s Daycare.
Every June since 1996, when the Hospice and local children created a giant sunflower on the Eye of York, St Leonard’s has had a sunflower display in the city centre – in York Minster, the 
Theatre Royal, the City Library and in the Art Gallery, as well as at the National Railway Museum. Last year was the first time that the Hospice organised a ‘Sunflower Tree’, and it attracted a great deal of favourable comment, as well as raising awareness of the work of St Leonard’s Hospice.
Janet Morley, Director of Fundraising at St Leonard’s Hospice, says, ‘Our eye-catching Sunflower Tree last year was great fun and great way to let people know about our work in the city and the surrounding area. We are very grateful to Vertigrow for supplying the tree for us, to City of York Council for allowing us to “plant” it in St Helen’s Square, and to everyone who has coloured in the special sunflowers for us. We know that everyone will enjoy the tree as it blooms for a week in the Square!’
ARTISTS AND GARDENERS OF COLTON HELP HOSPICE AND CHURCH
15 June 2009
Artists in the village of Colton have been hard at work preparing for one of the major events of the village’s year – the Art Exhibition and Open Gardens on Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 June in aid of Colton Church and St Leonard’s Hospice.
The Art Exhibition, which takes place in St Paul’s Church, Colton, will be open throughout the weekend and will have new works by artists who live in and around the village.
Three village gardens are also opening to the public on both days, and on Sunday 21 the miniature railway in the garden of the Old Post Office will be running. When it was shown for the first time last year it proved especially popular with children. Refreshments, books, plants and St Leonard’s Hospice gifts will be on sale in the open gardens.
All the gardens and the art exhibition in the church will be open from 10.00 am to 4.00 pm, and the admission charge of £3.00 covers the exhibition and the gardens.
Janet Morley, Director of Fundraising at St Leonard’s Hospice, says, ‘Our friends at Colton are among our most enthusiastic supporters, and we are delighted that they have once again organised local artistic talent and prepared their gardens for this special weekend. June is our special Hospice Month, when we draw special attention to our work of caring for local people, so this is a specially appropriate time for the people of Colton to support St Leonard’s.'
HELP LENNY CELEBRATE POCKLINGTON SHOP’S ‘SWEET SIXTEENTH’ BIRTHDAY
12 June 2009
The popular St Leonard’s Hospice shop in Pocklington celebrates its 16th birthday on Saturday 4 July – and customers are invited to the shop to meet Hospice mascot Lenny Bear and celebrate with a slice of cake.
The shop first opened its doors in July 1993, and has provided great bargains to the people of Pocklington for the last 16 years, as well as raising funds for the work of the Hospice. Each year the Pocklington shop contributes abound £40,000.
One of six shops run by the Hospice, the Pocklington shop sells goods that have been donated by Hospice supporters. New stock arrives every day and the shop always has plenty of bargains – the selling price for most goods is just 99p an item – books and bric-a-brac are individually priced. Almost all the staff are volunteers and they have become good friends to the people of the neighbourhood and made the shop a focal point for the local community.
Shop Manager Pat Smith says, ‘Happy birthday to the St Leonard’s Hospice shop in Pocklington! We are now ‘Sweet Sixteen’ and still making money for a cause local people have fully supported with their welcomed custom for the last 16 years. We are very grateful to them and to our many volunteers, past and present, who have helped us make the shop a success.’
Relief Manager Christine Thompson adds, ‘We’d like to invite everyone to mark our shop’s birthday by coming along on 4 July to join in our celebrations. There’s the chance to see Lenny Bear, enjoy the birthday atmosphere, and find another bargain. And on the shop’s birthday all our customers should pat themselves on the back for supporting the shop and making money for the Hospice. Come and have some cake; you deserve it!’
• The St Leonard’s Hospice Pocklington Shop is open 9.00 am to 4.00 pm Monday to Saturday every week, including on its birthday.
FIRST YORK GOES YELLOW FOR THE HOSPICE
10 June 2009
Passengers on the First York Park and Ride buses between Askham Bar and the centre of York on Friday 19 June will find a new uniform for the staff – they will all be in yellow tee-shirts, supporting ‘Go Yellow’ Day in aid of the city’s St Leonard’s Hospice.
For several years the company has supported the special day, on which people are encouraged to wear yellow to support the Hospice, with collections on the buses. Jackie Watson, who has arranged the special day for First York, will ensure that drivers and other staff are wearing the special tee-shirts, and that passengers are encouraged to give generously to the work of the Hospice.
‘Go Yellow’ marks June as Hospice Month, when events are held by local hospices around the country to draw attention to their work. Yellow is the colour of sunflowers, the symbol of the hospice movement and the emblem of St Leonard’s Hospice, which cares for people from York and the surrounding area.
Sarah Atkinson, Fundraising Assistant at St Leonard’s Hospice says, ‘Park & Ride from Askham Bar transports hundreds of people a day in June, so we are very pleased that Jackie and First York are once again supporting us by ‘going yellow’ and organising a collection for us. We hope that everyone will give generously – everything they donate will go towards our work of caring for local people and their families.’
GATE HELMSLEY REGULARS REMEMBER JOHN WITH HOSPICE DONATION
6 June 2009
Generous regulars of the Duke of York Inn at Gate Helmsley near Stamford Bridge have raised £1,000 for York’s St Leonard’s Hospice at an event in memory of one of their friends.
Local band Prime Example played at the pub for a special evening earlier this year, in a tribute to regular customer John Coupland. Eighty tickets were sold for the gig, which was organised by licensee Dee Hillier, her daughter Joanne and son-in-law Chris McDonough, and everyone gave generously to a raffle.
David Coupland presented the proceeds of the evening to fundraisers the Hospice, where his brother had been cared for.
Judith Wilson, Community Fundraiser at St Leonard’s, says, ‘The Duke of York’s customers have really done John’s memory proud with this excellent donation, and we are very grateful for their generosity. All the money they have raised will go directly to the care other local people with life-threatening illnesses.’
RICCALL ALLOTMENTS AND GARDENS OPEN FOR HOSPICE
1 June 2009
There’s a chance to look at different ways of growing fruit and vegetables and pick up tips from experienced gardeners when the allotments in Riccall open on Sunday 14 June as part of the regular Riccall Open Gardens in aid of St Leonard’s Hospice.
Known in the village as the Field Gardens, the allotments are a very popular feature, and there is a waiting list for plots. Visitors will be able to chat to the allotment holders and hear exactly how the scheme works.
Riccall Open Gardens this year also includes seven other gardens, all of which will welcome visitors. Most have been open before, but two – both in Mount Park, have been completely restructured, and regular visitors will be in for a surprise.
There are plants on sale at several of the gardens, and books, toys and bric-a-brac are available at a couple. On the village green there will be a tombola and stalls selling plants and books. Refreshments are on sale at three of the gardens, and the Greyhound and the Hare and Hounds pubs in the village will both be open for food and drinks.
Programmes giving entrance to all the gardens cost £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.
Brian Keen, an allotment holder and a member of the St Leonard’s Hospice Riccall Support Group says, ‘Our Open Gardens day is one of the highlights of our continuous programme of events to raise funds for St Leonard’s. All the gardens are full of interest, and regular visitors know that there’s always something new to see – like the Field Gardens for this year. A visit to RIccall makes a perfect Sunday afternoon out, and helps raise money for St Leonard’s Hospice, too.’
SUMMER FAIR
1 June 2009
Pictures of our Summer Fair, which rasied more than £5,000 for the work of the Hospice.
GLAMOUR AND BARGAINS AT HOSPICE FASHION SHOW
28 May 2009
Glamour and great bargains were on show at the annual Fashion Show put on by the St Leonard’s Hospice shops at the Hospice on Wednesday 27 May – and everything was for sale.
The show, in the Hospice’s Daycare attracted 100 people, who saw shop customers and volunteers model a wide selection of top-quality clothes, handbags and shoes for all occasions.
There was friendly competition for many of the clothes as they were sold at the end of the evening, and lots of people snapped up some of the latest fashions at bargain prices. There was also a raffle, with prizes including a home-made cake and a basket of fruit from Brown’s greengrocers in Pocklington, neighbours of the Hospice’s Pocklington Shop in Waterloo Lane.
All proceeds from the Fashion Show go towards the work of St Leonard’s, which needs to find £3.2 million each year to run its services, caring for local people with life-threatening illnesses, and for their families.
Helen Moreton, Retail Manager for St Leonard’s Hospice, says, ‘We had a great evening of fashion and fun, and we’re still counting the proceeds, which we hope will top £1000. Our Fashion Shows are always popular, and our shop customers always know that there are bargains in top-quality clothing and accessories in store.’
NOT JUST AN M&S CAFÉ AS MANAGERS SERVE TO RAISE HOSPICE FUNDS
28 May 2009
Customers at Marks & Spencer’s Monks Cross Store found themselves being served by new faces on Thursday 28 May, when the store’s managers took control of the food, drink and serving in Café Revive, to raise funds for York’s St Leonard’s Hospice.
The special day was part of the store’s 125-day fundraising campaign for the Hospice, which has already seen staff raising more than £900 with their very popular Mark’s Penny Bazaar day and with additional funds rolling in as the pounds roll off in a sponsored slim.
Janet Morley, Director of Fundraising at St Leonard’s Hospice, says, ‘This is not just fundraising, this is M&S fundraising, and the staff have been very generous in giving their time and encouraging customers to donate to the work of the Hospice in caring for local people. We are very grateful to all of them.’
NURSERY CHILDREN HAND OVER THEIR SUNFLOWERS
23 May 2009
Gemma Cobb (left), nursery Manager at Happy Jays Nursery, brought Ben and Faradei along to St Leonard’s to present Fundraiser Helen Moreton with the sunflowers they have coloured for the Sunflower Tree. The Tree will be in St Helen’s Square in the centre of York from 15 June to mark Hospice Awareness Month.
JENNA’S WAS FIRST NAME DOWN FOR HOSPICE MIDNIGHT WALK
22 May 2009
Jenna France was so keen to take part in this year’s Midnight Walk for St Leonard’s Hospice, which takes place on 20 June, that she was the first to sign up, even before the lists was officially open.
Last year was the first time the Walk was held, and it raised more than £25,000 for the work of St Leonard’s. Jenna and her mother Beverley were among the walkers then, and they so enjoyed the experience that Jenna contacted Helen Moreton, one of the organisers of the Midnight Walk in January to get their names on the list for 2009.
Helen met Jenna and Beverley at the Spurriergate Centre in the middle of York to chat about the route and to compare notes about the Walk. The Centre, which is halfway round the 6.5 mile course, opens its doors to refresh walkers on the night of the Walk.
The Midnight Walk, which follows pavements and cycle paths around York, starts and finishes at York College on Sim Balk Lane, not far from the Hospice. Walkers check in at York College between 10.30 pm and 11.30 pm and, after a short warm-up, set off at 12.00 midnight. The Walk is led throughout. 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.
There is a charge of £10.00 for each walker – 16 or under, £5.00 – and everyone is being encouraged to get sponsorship. All walkers must register before the event; entries cannot be accepted on the night.
Helen Moreton from the Hopsice, says, ‘It’s really encouraging that Jenna and her mum have been so keen to repeat their endeavours of last year, and we were delighted to sign them up as the first names for 2009. We hope that lots of others will join them in helping to raise funds for the work of the Hospice in caring for local people and their families. ’
EVERY LEMON TART AT HOTEL DU VIN HELPS HOSPICE ‘GO YELLOW’
20 May 2009
Guests at York’s Hotel du Vin are enjoying a new creation from Head Chef Nico Cecchella – and raising funds for the city’s St Leonard’s Hospice at the same time.
Nico has created a luxurious Lemon Tart to mark ‘Go Yellow’ month, which raises awareness of St Leonard’s by encouraging all things yellow – the colour of sunflowers, the Hospice’s symbol. The Tart is already on the Hotel’s menu, along with a note about the Hospice, and for each one sold between the beginning of April and the end of August the Hotel will donate £1.00 to St Leonard’s.
Ammie Stowell, Business Development Manager for Hotel du Vin Harrogate and York, says, ‘St Leonard’s Hospice is one of the local charities that we support, and creating a luscious yellow Lemon Tart to raise funds during ‘Go Yellow’ month seemed the perfect idea. We always like to be involved in the events that St Leonard’s organises because of the amazing work the Hospice does.’
The Hospice’s Director of Fundraising, Janet Morley, says, ‘Last year Hotel du Vin came up with a sunny yellow cocktail to celebrate our Go Yellow month – and now they’ve created this special Lemon Tart, which I’ve been very happy to sample! We are very grateful to the Hotel and its staff for all their support, and we urge everyone to try one of the Tarts as soon as possible – they’re brilliant!’
SUTTON-ON-THE-FOREST GARDENS OPEN FOR CHARITY AT BANK HOLIDAY
19 May 2009
Gardens in Sutton-on-the-Forest are opening their gates to visitors on Sunday 24 and Monday 25 May in aid of St Leonard’s Hospice and York Against Cancer.
The event is being run for the third time this year, and among the eight gardens that will open are some that have not welcomed visitors before. Most of the gardens are in the village’s Main Street, very close to each other. All the open gardens will be signed.
Teas will be served by the Yorkshire Countrywomen’s Association in the Village Hall, and around the village there will be stalls selling plants, books, CDs, DVDs and videos.
The gardens are open from 1.00 pm to 5.00 pm on both days, and an admission charge of £3.00 covers all the gardens. All the proceeds go to the two charities.
Judith Wilson, Community Fundraiser at St Leonard’s Hospice, says, ‘A Bank Holiday spent looking at beautiful gardens is a wonderful idea. We are very grateful to Sutton and Huby Gardening Club and all the villagers of Sutton-on-the-Forest who have made these special days possible and are raising funds for us. We know the sun will shine for them!’
COLLEGE DONATES PLANTS FOR HOSPICE SUMMER FAIR
18 May 2009
Green-fingered staff and students at Askham Bryan College near York have been busy growing a wide variety of bedding and other plants to be donated to the St Leonard’s Hospice SUMMER FAIR and GRAND PLANT SALE on Sunday 31 May.
The College, a regular supporter of the Hospice, offered the plants to St Leonard’s to be sold alongside hundreds of others, including vegetables, houseplants and perennials grown by the Hospice’s volunteer gardeners and a host of supporters. The plant sales, held as part of the Summer Fair, regularly raise more than £1,000.
This year’s Fair, held in the grounds of St Leonard’s Hospice on Tadcaster Road from 11.00 am to 3.00 pm, will include a wide variety of games and stalls to entertain visitors. The Hospice's mascot Lenny Bear will be out and about and there is live music throughout the day. Light refreshments are available in the Hospice's Stables Coffee Stop for anyone who is peckish plus a chocolate fountain to tempt our visitors.
There will be no parking at the Hospice on the day of the Fair. Visitors are encouraged to use the Park & Ride bus to Askham Bar, opposite the Hospice. Admission to the Fair is £1 for adults – children free.
Judith Wilson, Community Fundraiser at St Leonard’s Hospice, says, ‘Lots of keen gardeners know that they can get real bargains at our Grand Plant Sale, and the plants that are given to us by Askham Bryan College are always top-class. We are very grateful to them for their generosity.
There’s lots to do at the Fair, too, and we know that everyone who comes will have a really good time. And, of course, the event raises money for our work of caring for local people and their families.’
‘TIE A YELLOW RIBBON’ TO HELP ST LEONARD’S HOSPICE
12 May 2009
Supporters of St Leonard’s Hospice are being invited to ‘Tie a Yellow Ribbon’ to a special tree in the grounds of St Leonard’s 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.
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 the month in which hospices throughout the country are taking part in Hospices Awareness Month. There will be a special opportunity to ‘Tie a Yellow Ribbon’ at the Hospice’s Summer Fair on Sunday 31 May, from 11.00 am to 3.00 pm.
To honour someone with a yellow ribbon collect 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. The leaflet is also available to download from the Hospice website – www.stleonardshospice.org.uk
Helen Moreton, Community Fundraiser for St Leonard's Hospice, says, ‘A yellow ribbon is a very visible reminder of a loved one or a friend, and by making a donation to our work 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.’
SELBY BIKE RIDE
12 May 2009
Pictures of the start of this year's Great Selby Bike Ride, which took place on Sunday 10 May. More than 800 cyclists took part in aid of St Leonard's Hospice, Martin House Children's Hospice, the British Heart Foundation and the Cystic Fibrosis Trust and local Selby Lions Charities.
EASTER EGGS AND RABBITS HELP HOSPICE’S LENNY BEAR RAISE £10,000
11 May 2009
Giant chocolate eggs and chocolate rabbits helped St Leonard’s Hospice mascot Lenny Bear to raise more than £8,000 in this year’s Easter promotion to pubs, clubs, shops, offices and organisations.
In its eighth year, the Hospice’s Easter Egg lucky numbers competition again proved popular around the area. In all, 86 eggs and 50 rabbits were sent out, and to enter the competition players chose one of the numbered squares on the game board, paying £1 for each square. When all the squares were full, the winning number, which had already been chosen at random and placed in a sealed envelope, was revealed.
Jean Cross of St Leonard’s Hospice Fundraising team, says, ‘Lenny Bear and I are delighted that so many venues agreed to take our special Easter Eggs and rabbits – and we’re really pleased that they raised so much money for us. People have been very generous in donating more than the entry cost – a special thanks to Burton Stone Lane Working Men’s Club which raised a whopping £600 this year! ’
FOOD FESTIVAL AT GREEN HAMMERTON HELPS HOSPICE
28 April 2009
The Main Food Festival will take place amid the furniture at The Main Furniture Company’s showroom in Green Hammerton near York on Sunday 17 May from 10.30 am – and proceeds will go to St Leonard’s Hospice and the Bell Tower Fund of St John’s Church in Kirk Hammerton.
The Festival, which has been organised by The Main Furniture Company’s owner Karan Main, will be held in the 50,000-square-foot showroom in the centre of Green Hammerton. The space will be packed with stalls that feature the best of local produce. Among them will be the Ainsty Farm Shop, tempting visitors with their cheese, fruit, bread meat and poultry.
Also at the Festival will be local makers of cheese, jams, chocolate, bread, cakes, sweets, ice cream and pies, suppliers of wines and oils – as well as local artists and plant nurseries. Throughout the day there will be cooking demonstrations by Blazing Barbeques, Cooking Fantastic and Naked Hare Naturals, and the chance to taste all types of goodies, including a hog roast.
Karan Main says, ‘We are very pleased to be able to help St Leonard’s Hospice as well as our own local church with this special Food Festival. All the stalls that are showing their products and services are part of the area’s great food success story and show the true quality of local trade.’
Janet Morley, Director of Fundraising at St Leonard’s Hospice, says, ‘Karan has worked very hard and has gathered a great deal of support from a wide variety of different food specialists. It promises to be a fantastic event and St Leonard’s is very grateful to her for sharing the proceeds of the day with us.’
ARCHBISHOP SUPPORTS HOSPICE’S SUNFLOWER BALL
24 April 2009
The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, is supporting efforts to raise more than £60,000 for St Leonard’s Hospice at the next Sunflower Ball, to be held in a year’s time at York Racecourse.
Dr Sentamu is President of St Leonard’s, and he joined the Hospice’s Chairman of Trustees, Graham Millar, and members of the organising committee at Bishopthorpe Palace to launch the Ball, to be held on 24 April 2010.
Held every two years, the Sunflower Ball is the Hospice’s largest single fundraising event; the 2008 Sunflower Ball raised more than £65,000 and the Committee hopes to at least equal that amount next year. St Leonard's needs to raise £2.8 million each year from donations and other fundraising initiatives like the Ball. All profits from the Ball will go direct to the Hospice to support the day to day running costs of the Hospice.
The 2010 Sunflower Ball will also be one of the events that mark the 25th 
anniversary of St Leonard’s, which admitted its first in-patients in 1985.
Dr Sentamu said, “Please join me by helping to support the St Leonard’s Hospice as it reaches its 25th anniversary year. I give thanks for the army of volunteers, doctors and nurses who share the benefit of their expertise to help alleviate the pain and suffering of patients and their families. It is my hope that the Ball is a great success”.
The Ball Committee would be pleased to receive offers from local companies who could help to make the evening a success by offering sponsorship, by taking tables on the night, by donating prizes or by any other support that they would like to offer!
Tickets for the 2010 Sunflower Ball are now on sale at £75 per guest - this includes a Champagne drinks reception, four course dinner plus coffee and chocolates, live bands, disco and casino, breakfast and a full programme of entertainment until the early hours. For tickets or to offer any other support to the evening’s success please e-mail helenwilliams@cellhire.com or call the Hospice Fundraising Centre on 01904 77 77 77.
HOSPICE FASHION SHOW BARGAINS WILL HELP PATIENTS
23 April 2009
Smart fashions and great bargains from St Leonard’s Hospice shops will be highlighted at a special fashion show at the Hospice – and everything is for sale.
The show, in the Hospice’s Daycare is on Wednesday 27 May and will feature a wide selection of top-quality clothes, handbags and shoes for all occasions. They will be modelled by shop customers and volunteers.
Tickets, which are available at all the Hospice shops or from St Leonard’s Hospice Fundraising Centre on 01904 77 77 77, cost £3.50 and include light refreshments. The doors open at 7.00 pm, and the show begins at 7.30 pm. All proceeds go towards the work of St Leonard’s, which needs to find £2.8 million each year to run its services, caring for local people with life-threatening illnesses, and for their families.
Helen Moreton, Retail Manager for St Leonard’s Hospice, says, ‘In the difficult economic climate it’s good to know that you can still find a bargain! Our Hospice shops are full of top-quality clothing and accessories, and everyone who buys from us not only gets great value but also knows that they are helping St Leonard’s Hospice, too. Come along to the fashion show and see what you can spot!’
KATE CONQUERS THE PEAKS FOR ST LEONARD'S
22 April 2009
Kate Ward, Sales Administrator at Barratt Homes Yorkshire East, along with her partner and a friend took part in the National Three Peaks Challenge which involves climbing the three highest mountains in the UK within 24 hours. It took them 23 and a half hours and they have only just stopped aching from this adventurous, some might say crazy, challenge! Kate has raised over £300 for St Leonard's Hospice by conquering Snowdon, Scafell Pike and Ben Nevis so very well done Kate!
IOO YEARS OF DRINGHOUSES FOOTBALL, £500 FOR ST LEONARD’S HOSPICE
17 April 2009
Footballers marking 100 years of their club have celebrated by raising £500 for York’s St Leonard’s Hospice at a Centenary Dinner.
Dringhouses Football Club was founded in 1908 and at the end of last year they marked the special anniversary at York Racecourse. Speakers at the Dinner included 1966 World-Cup-winning England footballer Nobby Stiles, and there was a fundraising auction that made £500 for the Hospice.
The Club’s Treasurer Martin Scott says, ‘We wanted to mark the centenary both by celebrating and by helping other people. ST Leonard’s Hospice is very close to a lot of our members, many of whom have had friends or relatives cared for at St Leonard’s. It’s a local charity we are proud to support.’
Janet Morley, Director of Fundraising at St Leonard’s Hospice, says, ‘We send our congratulations to Dringhouses Football Club on their remarkable achievement, and we wish then well in all their games over the next century! Their donation is a really generous way of marking such a milestone, and we are delighted that they are helping us to care for local people and their families.
ROONEY AND KNIGHTS SIGNED SHIRTS IN HOSPICE AUCTION
8 April 2009
Staff Nurse Julie Harrison from York’s St Leonard’s Hospice is calling on all sports fans to bid for two very special signed shirts, in aid of the work of the Hospice.
As part of the fundraising that the nurses carry out for the Hospice, Julie has been given two shirts. The Manchester United shirt has been signed by star player Wayne Rooney, while the York City Knights Rugby shirt has been signed by all the team.
Bids are being invited for either or both the shirts. All the money raised will go towards the work of caring for local people and their families. St Leonard’s never makes a charge to patients or their families, and its annual running costs are £3.2 million.
Julie Harrison says, ‘The nurses at the Hospice are keen to raise funds for St Leonard’s, and I’m pleased that these shirts can help. Please make a generous bid – you could end up with a valuable sporting souvenir – and you’d be helping the Hospice at the same time.’
The closing day for bids on the shirts is Thursday 30 April. To make a bid, please write your name, address and telephone number, along with your bid and a note of which shirt you are bidding for. You can bid for both shirts, but please bid a separate amount for each. Send your bids to Staff Nurse Julie Harrison, St Leonard’s Hospice, 185 Tadcaster Road, York YO24 1GL.
