Fundraisers can do ‘virtually’ anything to help out the hospice
SPRINGHILL Hospice has announced its latest virtual fundraising event and is calling on people to support the charity by taking on their own personal challenge.
The hospice’s new Sofa to Summit challenge invites supporters to set themselves their own sponsored activity - to be completed in line with social distancing safety guidelines - to raise money for the hospice, which offers palliative and end of life care both to residential patients at its 16-bed facility and to those in the community.
The challenge allows each participant to choose an activity that suits them, all while raising money for the hospice, but the hospice says it could be anything from swimming 100 lengths at the local pool to walking the length of a mountain trek on the streets of Rochdale or just in the back garden.
The Sofa to Summit Challenge has been set up by the hospice in light of the coronavirus pandemic which has had a huge impact on the annual fundraising events it normally holds, most of which have had to be cancelled, meaning there has been a financial impact on the charity, which relies on donors and supporters to raise in excess of £7,500 per day to fund the £4 million annual cost of its in-house services.
The challenge will run throughout August - but some keen supporters have already got underway with their fundraising efforts.
Maria Dilkes, a key worker and teacher employed in a local primary school, was the first person to sign up for the challenge - and has a poignant reason behind her decision to take part.
She has challenged herself to take on a sponsored walk for the hospice to raise money, and will be completing the challenge in memory of her grandmother, Brenda O’Rourke, who passed away in June and was cared for at home by the Springhill Hospice Community Nursing team in her final months.
Maria, from Heywood, said: “I am walking 200km in six weeks for the hospice’s challenge.
“It’s a huge personal and physical challenge for an amazing hospice that went above and beyond to care for my Nan at the end of her life.
“Even though this year has been very different, I’m really glad that Springhill Hospice have a challenge like this so that people can still show their support, take on their own challenge at their own pace and fundraise for such a special place.”
Maria, 29, has already begun walking towards her 200km goal, and has been joined some of the way by her mum Irene, 56, who has pledged to complete 20km alongside her daughter - although she added that as she was enjoying the challenge so far, she may strive for a longer distance.
Barbara Lloyd, community support fundraisier at Springhill Hospice said: “The Sofa to Summit virtual challenge is a great way to push and challenge yourself whilst staying safe and following Government guidance. It can provide a welcome change to the daily routine and a chance to ‘move more’ after all these weeks in lockdown.
“With the number of events cancelled this year due to the outbreak of coronavirus, it also offers a fun and innovative way to help raise vital funds for the hospice that everyone of all ages can enjoy.
“It would be lovely to have as many people as possible taking part.”
Anyone interested in taking part in the challenge to help raise vital funds for the hospice should visit www.springhill.org.uk/ sofa-to-summit, email fundraising@springhill. org.uk or call 01706 641790 for more information.