Hospice news

Magical smiles at Springhill Hospice

Local builder Chris Townsend built a very special relationship with the patients and staff at Springhill Hospice last week. Chris wanted to give something back to his community and Springhill and was inspired having attended a course in magic last year. Chris conjured up the idea of using magic to bring a smile to the faces of Springhill patients and staff. To do this, Chris contacted Magic Matt, a magician experienced in both close up and live stage magic and asked him to join in with the project.

Julie Halliwell, Springhill Hospice CEO, said: “Chris came to us with this idea of putting a smile on the faces of our patients and to make it even more special, he arranged for the magician’s visit to be filmed with copies being gifted to the patients and their families as a wonderful lasting memory.”

Chris said: “I wanted to do something unique to make a difference and help raise awareness. I wanted to put a smile on people’s faces because if you’re smiling you can’t be unhappy.”

With lots of events planned to raise money for the Hospice, the fundraising team need lots of tombola and raffle prizes, but their shelves are empty. Community Fundraiser, Lillie Winterbottom said: “Raffles and tombolas help us raise the £3m it costs each year to run the hospice. We can’t run them without the generous donations of the public.”

Donations can be taken to any of the seven charity shops, the Hospice reception or the Springhill Tea Rooms on Broad Lane, Rochdale and should be marked ‘Tombola Appeal.’

Have you got time to spare? Whether its two hours or two days, half a day or half the week, then Springhill Hospice needs you. Volunteers are needed in the shops, Springhill Tea Rooms & Gift shop, at the Hospice or in the community.

Volunteers can help at the Hospice doing everything from working in the kitchen, in day hospice, on reception or in the garden. Seven charity shops offer the opportunity to help closer to home, in Balderstone, Whitworth, Heywood, Littleborough, Rochdale Town Centre or Middleton.

Springhill’s Tea Room is another location where you can give support either in kitchen with general duties from washing-up to preparing salads, in the gift shop or waiting tables. The tea rooms are open from 10am until 3pm and is an ideal opportunity for those with young children - drop them off at school, do a shift at the tea rooms and then pick the kids up.

Equally rewarding would be volunteering for Springhill’s Community Service, providing both companionship for a patient and a well-deserved break for a relative or carer.

Gill Kenny, Springhill’s Volunteer Coordinator, said: “If you’ve thought about volunteering but not yet taken the plunge, we’d love you to get in touch. Once you’ve filled in your forms, we can chat about what you’d like to do. You’ll receive training and an induction so you know what the Hospice is all about.”

For more information contact:

• Gill Kenny on 01706 649920 or via gill.kenny@nhs.net for information on the Hospice shops.
• Sarah Ford on 01706 641790 or via sarah.ford17@nhs.net for information about the Tea Room.
• Sharon Hancock on 01706 752 360 Ext: 230 or via Sharon.hancock3@nhs.net for information for community volunteering. 

Dates for the Diary

Saturday 5 September
Flaming Grill: Family Fun Day
The Summit Inn will be raising money for Springhill Hospice at their family fun day. There will be stalls, glassware, clothing, cakes and cookies, clothing, a BBQ and much more. The event starts at 12pm.

Thursday 8 October
Lucy Cobb Fashion Show
Held at the Hospice, guests are invited to arrive at 7pm with the show starting at 7.30pm. Tickets are £5 each including a glass of wine and nibbles. Contact the fundraising team on 01706 641790 for tickets.

Lottery Draw Result
21 August

The £1,000 jackpot winning number is: 226129 from Manchester.
The £200 prize winning number is: 296496 from Bury.
The £100 prize winning number is: 171819 from Middleton.

Plus 15 prizes of £10: 12533 – 51031 – 66439 – 68328 – 74117 – 76137 – 82171 – 192098 – 219656 – 294045– 294439 – 291939 – 302980 – 306273 – 306279