So I've come back to a madhouse!
Entries are coming in thick and fast for our Santa Run! It should be a really fun day, so if you're interested in running round Alexandra Park in your very own Santa suit then call me on 0161 624 9984 as soon as possible.
And speaking of Santa... I'm passing on all your letter requests to him, and he tells me he'll be sending them out shortly. So if you've asked for a letter from Santa for someone it will be on its way soon! If you would like Santa to send a letter to someone you know, big or small, then get in touch.
I don't really have time to take a breath at the moment, so this is quite a short post. Don't forget our Light up a Life service on 6th December at 7.30pm. See you all soon!
Friday, 20 November 2009
Tuesday, 10 November 2009
Running Santas
I am off for a long overdue holiday tomorrow! Not that I'm going anywhere exciting or exotic - the furthest away I'll be heading is the lovely countryside of Warwickshire to see my family for my birthday. But that will be nice. And I need a bit of a rest after all the excitement over the last few weeks...
Entry is now open for our Santa Run - this will take place on Sunday 13th December, starting at 11am, at Alexandra Park, Oldham, OL8 2BH. Entry is just £10 for adults, £5 for children, and includes your very own Santa suit and medal! There will also be mulled wine, mince pies, and general fun and games afterwards. So please download an order form from www.drkershawshospice.org.uk or call us on 0161 624 9984. Well, call the Appeals team. I won't be here, at least for the next few days!
Santa is getting lots of orders for his letters, so make sure you get your order in quick if you'd like him to write to a special boy or girl this Christmas! Again, you can download the form from our website, or call us.
We are also raffling a beautiful old-fashioned rocking horse - this would make the most amazing Christmas present. For more information, call Cheryl on 0161 624 9984.
Right, I am signing off... need to try to tidy my desk before I leave... Or at least make my desk visible so people don't trip over it while I'm away! See you all next week!
Entry is now open for our Santa Run - this will take place on Sunday 13th December, starting at 11am, at Alexandra Park, Oldham, OL8 2BH. Entry is just £10 for adults, £5 for children, and includes your very own Santa suit and medal! There will also be mulled wine, mince pies, and general fun and games afterwards. So please download an order form from www.drkershawshospice.org.uk or call us on 0161 624 9984. Well, call the Appeals team. I won't be here, at least for the next few days!
Santa is getting lots of orders for his letters, so make sure you get your order in quick if you'd like him to write to a special boy or girl this Christmas! Again, you can download the form from our website, or call us.
We are also raffling a beautiful old-fashioned rocking horse - this would make the most amazing Christmas present. For more information, call Cheryl on 0161 624 9984.
Right, I am signing off... need to try to tidy my desk before I leave... Or at least make my desk visible so people don't trip over it while I'm away! See you all next week!
Monday, 2 November 2009
Creative Anarchy and Letters from Santa
I love my job! I saw an article recently that described fundraising as 'creative anarchy'. That sounds about right. Today I have been talking to the Sweetmeister, collecting bags of toy stuffing, and in negotiations with Santa Claus!
The toy stuffing is for our crafts group, The Crafty Cuppa, which will be meeting at the hospice on the second and fourth Thursday of the month, beginning on 12th November. It will be an informal skills-share for any craft, where you can learn new skills, pass your wisdom onto others, and have a cup of tea and a natter! A suggested donation of £2 is all they ask!
The Sweetmeister (possibly the best job title in all the world!) has arranged for a special promotion at the Happy Sweet Shop, an online, traditional sweet shop selling delicious old-fashioned sweets. If you're looking for Christmas presents, stocking fillers, or just to treat yourself on the cold winter nights, check out the fab range at http://www.happysweetshop.co.uk/ . When buying, use the voucher code DRKER182 and not only will you get a 10% discount, but they will also donate 10% of the sale to Dr. Kershaw's Hospice! What better excuse to indulge!
And possibly the most exciting news of all... I have been speaking to Santa! The man himself! And I can tell you that he is lovely! He has agreed, despite his very busy schedule at this time of year, to write letters to some lucky boys and girls, in exchange for a donation of £3 to Dr. Kershaw's Hospice (or £5 for 2 letters). If you would like to request a letter from Santa, email me at allegra@drkershawshospice.org.uk or phone me on 0161 624 9984. I will be answering to the name of 'the Dr. Kershaw's Christmas Elf'!
The toy stuffing is for our crafts group, The Crafty Cuppa, which will be meeting at the hospice on the second and fourth Thursday of the month, beginning on 12th November. It will be an informal skills-share for any craft, where you can learn new skills, pass your wisdom onto others, and have a cup of tea and a natter! A suggested donation of £2 is all they ask!
The Sweetmeister (possibly the best job title in all the world!) has arranged for a special promotion at the Happy Sweet Shop, an online, traditional sweet shop selling delicious old-fashioned sweets. If you're looking for Christmas presents, stocking fillers, or just to treat yourself on the cold winter nights, check out the fab range at http://www.happysweetshop.co.uk/ . When buying, use the voucher code DRKER182 and not only will you get a 10% discount, but they will also donate 10% of the sale to Dr. Kershaw's Hospice! What better excuse to indulge!
And possibly the most exciting news of all... I have been speaking to Santa! The man himself! And I can tell you that he is lovely! He has agreed, despite his very busy schedule at this time of year, to write letters to some lucky boys and girls, in exchange for a donation of £3 to Dr. Kershaw's Hospice (or £5 for 2 letters). If you would like to request a letter from Santa, email me at allegra@drkershawshospice.org.uk or phone me on 0161 624 9984. I will be answering to the name of 'the Dr. Kershaw's Christmas Elf'!
Tuesday, 27 October 2009
Santa-cise
I am currently in the process of arranging for about 100 Santas to run round a park in December... Not because Santa has been roped into the goverment's Change 4 Life scheme and ordered to get into shape, but for a Santa Run to raise money for the hospice.
First issue is location, which I believe has been solved by a very nice man from the council helping me to get my winter mittened hands on Alexandra Park. Once this is sorted, we can arrange a date and a time.
Next I need marshals, and some nice people to distribute medals, water, mulled wine and mince pies to the weary Santas. I'm also in the process of trying to acquire some mulled wine and mince pies!
Then comes the rallying of the actual Santas... and this is where you lot come in. If anyone fancies running, jogging, or walking very slowly (which is my preferred option!) around a 5k route in Alexandra Park, dressed as a Santa (your very own outfit and medal is included in your registration fee), then please call me on 0161 624 9984 or email allegra@drkershawshospice.org.uk
I'm now also considering something of a mini celebratory party afterwards, with Christmas carols, a raffle, the aforementioned mulled wine and mince pies, and, thanks to comments from a certain someone who shall remain nameless, potentially a 'Claus On All Fours' obstacle course, for those who aren't already sufficiently shattered! I'll keep you posted!
First issue is location, which I believe has been solved by a very nice man from the council helping me to get my winter mittened hands on Alexandra Park. Once this is sorted, we can arrange a date and a time.
Next I need marshals, and some nice people to distribute medals, water, mulled wine and mince pies to the weary Santas. I'm also in the process of trying to acquire some mulled wine and mince pies!
Then comes the rallying of the actual Santas... and this is where you lot come in. If anyone fancies running, jogging, or walking very slowly (which is my preferred option!) around a 5k route in Alexandra Park, dressed as a Santa (your very own outfit and medal is included in your registration fee), then please call me on 0161 624 9984 or email allegra@drkershawshospice.org.uk
I'm now also considering something of a mini celebratory party afterwards, with Christmas carols, a raffle, the aforementioned mulled wine and mince pies, and, thanks to comments from a certain someone who shall remain nameless, potentially a 'Claus On All Fours' obstacle course, for those who aren't already sufficiently shattered! I'll keep you posted!
Monday, 12 October 2009
Upcoming attractions!
We've got quite a lot of exciting events coming up over the next month or so, so I thought I would use this post to give you a run-down of what you can look forward to as the nights are drawing in...
On 22nd October, 1pm - 5pm, St. George's Primary School are holding a bulb planting event. As well as the bulbs there will be activities, refreshments and a balloon release, so it should be a really great day out!
Our Christmas Fair is on 1st November, here at the Hospice, from 12 - 4pm. We will have Christmas gifts on sale, raffles, a tombola, a range of stalls, and other exciting activities. So please come down and join us.
On November 8th, the circus is in town! Circus Starr are performing at Royton Park and raising money for us! Call 01260 288 690 for tickets, or visit www.circus-starr.co.uk .
And on December 5th there is a 60s and 70s night at Royton Conservative Club!
If you would like any more information, contact us on 0161 624 9984.
On 22nd October, 1pm - 5pm, St. George's Primary School are holding a bulb planting event. As well as the bulbs there will be activities, refreshments and a balloon release, so it should be a really great day out!
Our Christmas Fair is on 1st November, here at the Hospice, from 12 - 4pm. We will have Christmas gifts on sale, raffles, a tombola, a range of stalls, and other exciting activities. So please come down and join us.
On November 8th, the circus is in town! Circus Starr are performing at Royton Park and raising money for us! Call 01260 288 690 for tickets, or visit www.circus-starr.co.uk .
And on December 5th there is a 60s and 70s night at Royton Conservative Club!
If you would like any more information, contact us on 0161 624 9984.
Wednesday, 7 October 2009
Celebrating life!
Yesterday I suspect it was a bit quiet in the office, because I was at a very interesting workshop on In Memoriam charity activities - the kinds of things that charities do to help people remember their loved ones and celebrate their lives. Here at the hospice we have our Light up a Life ceremony, and the Life for a Life memorial trees, and I have now learned about loads more fantastic things that other charities are doing.
But throughout all this it occurred to me that we have a very difficult time talking about death in this country. I think a lot of members of the charity sector are reluctant to look at memorial activities because they don't feel it is appropriate to approach a grieving family and offer these things to them; and it is extremely difficult to know how to approach someone who has just lost a loved one. On the other hand, people who have been involved in memorial activities for their loved ones say that it was an extremely positive and helpful experience.
As more people move away from religion and communities aren't as close-knit as they used to be, there are less consolations for the loss of a loved one. Employers aren't very understanding these days when people need time off because of a bereavement, we're expected to put a brave face on things, and the world in general moves so fast that the grieving process can be swept under the rug. But taking the time to grieve is a vital part of dealing with a loss, and we all want to feel that our loved ones are being valued and respected; it is our memories that keep them with us.
So, my feeling is that we need to come together to support each other through these difficult times. In my opinion it is the role of community organisations, like ourselves, to help families to say goodbye in a way they feel honours their loved one, and to celebrate that person's life and who they were. We need to encourage people to talk about death and the emotions that surround it. Death is an inevitable part of life, and as such we have all lost someone we cared about. Therefore, rather than being embarrassed and afraid of the subject and trying to pretend it doesn't happen, we need to come together to share our experiences and remember the people we love.
We wish they could still be here, but we are priviledged to have known them at all. My family will still descend into fits of giggles thinking about things my Nan got up to! I hope you can all have a smile today for someone you love who is no longer with us.
And in the spirit of sharing our feelings, if anyone has any comments or suggestions I would be very grateful to hear them. Thank you!
But throughout all this it occurred to me that we have a very difficult time talking about death in this country. I think a lot of members of the charity sector are reluctant to look at memorial activities because they don't feel it is appropriate to approach a grieving family and offer these things to them; and it is extremely difficult to know how to approach someone who has just lost a loved one. On the other hand, people who have been involved in memorial activities for their loved ones say that it was an extremely positive and helpful experience.
As more people move away from religion and communities aren't as close-knit as they used to be, there are less consolations for the loss of a loved one. Employers aren't very understanding these days when people need time off because of a bereavement, we're expected to put a brave face on things, and the world in general moves so fast that the grieving process can be swept under the rug. But taking the time to grieve is a vital part of dealing with a loss, and we all want to feel that our loved ones are being valued and respected; it is our memories that keep them with us.
So, my feeling is that we need to come together to support each other through these difficult times. In my opinion it is the role of community organisations, like ourselves, to help families to say goodbye in a way they feel honours their loved one, and to celebrate that person's life and who they were. We need to encourage people to talk about death and the emotions that surround it. Death is an inevitable part of life, and as such we have all lost someone we cared about. Therefore, rather than being embarrassed and afraid of the subject and trying to pretend it doesn't happen, we need to come together to share our experiences and remember the people we love.
We wish they could still be here, but we are priviledged to have known them at all. My family will still descend into fits of giggles thinking about things my Nan got up to! I hope you can all have a smile today for someone you love who is no longer with us.
And in the spirit of sharing our feelings, if anyone has any comments or suggestions I would be very grateful to hear them. Thank you!
Monday, 5 October 2009
Thank you!
I just want to say a huge thank you to everyone who came down to Tesco on Huddersfield Road on Friday and Saturday. The event was great fun, and the staff raised a fantastic £921.58!
All the team put in so much effort to keep the bike going for the 24 hours, and the customers were all extremely generous in their support.
I also want to say thank you to Tesco's Community Champion, Caroline, who came up with the idea in the first place. Caroline created a real party atmosphere over the 24 hours, which I think everyone really enjoyed! I know I did.
We had balloons, party poppers and music, and all the staff threw themselves into the challenge with great enthusiasm!
Here are the hospice we rely on contributions from the local community to allow us to continue providing our services, so we cannot express enough how much we value support like this. Thank you all so much!
All the team put in so much effort to keep the bike going for the 24 hours, and the customers were all extremely generous in their support.
I also want to say thank you to Tesco's Community Champion, Caroline, who came up with the idea in the first place. Caroline created a real party atmosphere over the 24 hours, which I think everyone really enjoyed! I know I did.
We had balloons, party poppers and music, and all the staff threw themselves into the challenge with great enthusiasm!
Here are the hospice we rely on contributions from the local community to allow us to continue providing our services, so we cannot express enough how much we value support like this. Thank you all so much!
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