Stockport Express

Don’t forget to claim slice of birthday cake

- BY RACHEL MCMILLAN Chief Executive, St Ann’s Hospice

ART and creativity have played a huge part in the care we’ve provided to patients and those closest to them over the last 50 years.

The use of creative therapy is a great way for people to reflect and communicat­e their thoughts and feelings with the supervisio­n and guidance of a qualified therapist.

Creative therapy projects such as memory boxes, paintings or crafts can often be a way for patients to come together in groups to talk with other likeminded people, to hone their skills or take up a new hobby, and can also allow individual­s to create amazing, unique pieces to share with their family and friends.

Even during the pandemic, our teams have supported and provided patients with creative projects they could try at home, proving invaluable for some, especially during challengin­g periods of lockdown.

It’s therefore fitting that we’re continuing our 50th anniversar­y celebratio­ns with a very special creative project that we’re hoping people in Stockport will join us and be part of.

This summer, St Ann’s has partnered with local artist Lindi Kirwin and The Trafford Centre on a special art installati­on, which will not only help us to continue our half a century birthday celebratio­ns, but will give local people the opportunit­y to own a very special piece of St Ann’s history too.

Funds raised from the installati­on will also help us to continue providing services such as creative therapies to our patients.

The ‘A Slice of History’ installati­on, which will be on display at The Trafford Centre until June 30, will be created with a thousand metal forget-me-nots, which individual­s can purchase and receive after the installati­on to keep in their own home or place of remembranc­e.

The piece, which takes the form of a huge cake, symbolisin­g birthdays, but also gatherings of friends and family, also features a surprise for visitors – a special candle which lights up in celebratio­n as donations are made. The installati­on’s title, ‘A Slice of History,’ recognises the fact that St Ann’s was one of the pioneering hospices in the UK.

We’re incredibly proud of our place in Stockport’s history, and we’re always so touched that local people are proud of our charity and want to support us too.

It’s incredibly moving to think what this installati­on will represent. A thousand lives remembered in the forget-me-nots which are used to create it, and many thousands more lives that we’ve been proud to be part of over the last 50 years too.

The beautiful metal forget-me-nots which are used to create the birthday cake installati­on are also available now to purchase, and will be sent to supporters after the installati­on so they can keep them in their garden or home.

Huge thanks to everyone involved in making this installati­on a reality, and to everyone who has purchased one of the metal forget-me-nots.

We really appreciate your support, and it will help us to continue caring for people in Stockport into the future too.

To purchase one of the special forget-me-nots which will feature in the installati­on, please visit www.sah.org.uk/buy-aflower or call 0161 498 3631.

 ??  ?? ●●Chief executive Rachel McMillan in the St Ann’s garden
●●Chief executive Rachel McMillan in the St Ann’s garden

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