MND Liz

Going Nuts for Wirral Hospice St John’s

The lovely people at Bromborough-based Sun Valley Nut Company, who have made us one of their chosen charities this year, took part in the hospice’s Care for a Cuppa campaign in July.

Over tea, coffee, cakes (and nuts) they began to commit to further challenges to raise funds for the hospice and a number of them have since completed a climb of Mount Snowdon in August and more recently, the absolutely breath-taking Edale Skyline Trek in September. Alison Robson of Sun Valley wrote of the Edale trek; We set off in Hope! (In more ways than one as Hope is the name of the picturesque village in the Peak District where the 22 mile circular route starts and finishes). Blessed with a glorious late summer’s day ahead we could see the full extent of the route. Beautiful views of Ladybower Reservoir, Win Hill, Hope Cross, Kinder Plateau, Crowden Rocks, Mam Tor, The Great Ridge and Lose Hill stretched out before us. We were soon to get a close-up of them all as our sturdy walking boots trudged all around the Hope Valley. With a couple of refreshment breaks and plenty of liquids later we arrived back in Hope, ten hours later! We were all exhausted but felt a real sense of achievement that we’d completed our exhilarating trek for such a great cause. Brilliant! Thank you to everyone at Sun Valley for your greatly-valued support. We’ve heard, inspired by their colleagues, that some of our friends at Sun Valley are now signing up for other runs, walks and challenges to swell the already impressive funds they’ve raised for the hospice. Wirral Hospice St John’s 2021 bespoke challenges have been organised in association with RAW Adventures www.raw-adventures.co.uk If you, or your organisation, would like to organise or take part in a future challenge or event for the hospice, please contact our friendly events and corporate team on events@wirralhospice.org

Mount Snowdon Edale

On Thursday 30th September, after a year’s hiatus because of COVID 19, Wirral Hospice St John’s annual Golf Day was held at the picturesque, but challenging, Caldy Golf Club.

Hospice President, His Honour John Roberts, and hospice ambassador, Mr Peter Lees welcomed teams of four to compete over 18 holes on this most splendid of courses. The day was sponsored by Charles Stephens Funeral Directors and Rathbones Investment Management with teams entered by friends of the hospice, both individuals and businesses. (Extra contributions were made by Melavid Ltd, Nook Mortgages and NJC Thermal through sponsoring holes and some of the other on-course competitions). Investec sponsored breakfast so everyone was set up for a great day’s golf. BUT, as fortune sometimes dictates, the heavy winds and rains were a feature of most of the day. However, the hardy competitors stayed the course and, for golf aficionados, the classic four-ball Stableford competition was eventually won by The High Sheriff’s Posse! (High Sheriff of Merseyside, Nigel Lanceley, teamed up with, Deli Skinner, James Berry and Dr Bruce Taylor). Sponsorship, entry fees, raffle and personal donations meant that the hospice raised a really welcome £6,000 (and counting) towards our specialist care and support services. A really Big THANK YOU goes to everybody who braved the elements to make it such a memorable day.

On 16th October 2021 our friends Chris Seddon and Katy Lehman of Nook Mortgages celebrated the second birthday of their growing business.

It’s been a whirlwind couple of years for them but their success is clear as they also recently had to move to bigger premises in Heswall, taking on new staff in the process. We’re more than delighted for them! Nook have become corporate partners of the hospice and we know they really deserve the rewards their hard work and professionalism have earned. Chris had wanted to do what he could for the hospice since his dad, Colin, was treated so sensitively and respectfully by our Hospice at Home team back in 2017. Chris remembered how important the service was for his Dad, who had lived with his oesophageal cancer for only a relatively short time, and the respite it gave his Mum, Sue, as well as Chris and his brothers, and their whole family. As well as caring for dad we were always asked how we were feeling too. It was such a great help.

So now Chris and business partner, Katy, have made a number of gifts and donations to the hospice. Organising a golf day in Colin’s name, donating goods from our Amazon Wishlist and even sending in food from a deal with Wok and Go and Dodo’s Pizza at the height of lockdown for our hardworking ward staff. They also make a kind quarterly donation to Wirral Hospice St John’s from any profit they make from their friendly mortgage service. It’s a classic ‘affinity’ relationship and we’re so grateful for their kind contributions.