Having a ball to give hospice what it wants
ACASUAL chat in the back of a taxi turned life upside down for one businesswoman. On her way to a charity event, company director Jayne Carter chatted with her friends about how prizes at such events were too often aimed at men and not ‘what women want’ at all.
Within days, Jayne and her four friends had set up the What Women Want committee aimed at raising funds for East Cheshire Hospice.
Now almost six years on, the committee has raised more than £130,000 for the hospice with plans for their 2015 What Women Want Ball well under way.
But it’s a trip next month to the hospice laundry that the ladies are most looking forward to, after raising the £20,000 needed to replace all the old washing machines, dryers and irons needed on a daily basis
“It’s just brilliant to see the money we’ve raised being put to such practical use”, said committee chairperson Jayne.
“Of course I’m very proud of what we have achieved as a committee, but really we get fantastic support from the whole community and surrounding areas every year to help us achieve our fundraising targets.”
Jayne, a company director with Redmont Packaging, took part in the London Marathon and also the gruelling 12-mile obstacle course, Tough Mudder, in her own personal fundraising quest for the charity.
“In October 2009, when my mum needed the hospice, I experienced at first hand the level of care and support provided for all the family,” she said.
“The hospice gives people back their dignity and restores calmness into what can be very difficult times in people’s lives. Nothing is too much trouble for the people that work there and that’s why we all just love raising this money.”
Jayne’s fundraising colleagues are HR manager Jo Millward, work placement officer Julie Barnes, and hospice employees Elaine Burgess, an administrator, and nurse Jill Harding. but we all get tremendous job satisfaction.”
Her colleague Susan agrees.
“It’s a fabulous place to work with a great atmosphere”, she said.
“I love going around the wards chatting to the patients. No two days are ever the same”.
All three ladies are eagerly awaiting the arrival of the new equipment, which is due to be installed next month.