Helping the hospice – great fundraising events coming up
Locally there is probably no better known – or better loved – good cause than St Michael’s Hospice. For too many local people the hospice has played a big part in their lives as a member of their family, or close friend, has seen out their days being cared for there.
The cost of running the Hospice and providing the full range of services to its patients is over £6million a year. With only 35 per cent of that coming from the NHS. The Hospice needs to raise the balance circa, around £4.3million, over £12,000 a day from voluntary sources through an ongoing series of fund raising events and through other means like the St Michael’s Hospice charity shops.
Hastings In Focus wants to do it’s bit to support the hospice in any way we can and as we now reach close to 20,000 people every week we will run regularly stories and features on what the hospice is doing to raise those vital funds.
So… what’s coming up? Well starting this weekend there’s a lot going on…
Rye and District Country Show
The Rye and District Country Show returns to the Elm Tree Farm in Icklesham, this Saturday (August 18th) from 10am until 4.30pm. St Michael’s Hospice is delighted to be the beneficiary once again for this brilliant event which is a staple on the local events calendar and has grown in size and popularity year after year.
As well as the horse and dog shows, there is the opportunity to browse stalls selling fabulous local produce, crafts, horse, dog and garden accessories, and much more. There is also a whole host of food and drink to sample, local trade stands to explore, and an exciting programme of live entertainment.
New for 2018 the Rye and District Country Show is featuring the Tigers Army Parachute Display Team, who will drop from an amazing height to create incredible formations, both in the air and under the parachute, this will be a sight not to be missed. There will also be a live performance from the 1st Cinque Ports Rifle Volunteers Corps of Drums.
Entry to the event is £5, under 16s go free.
To find out more about events in aid of St Michael’s Hospice visit www.stmichaelshospice.com/events
Grand Summer Fayre
Come along to the Hastings and St Leonards Support Group’s Grand Summer Fayre at St Michael’s Hospice, on Saturday September 1st from 10.15am until 12.30pm.
With live performances from The Wacky Band and Tornado Twirl Stars, there will also be a fabulous variety of stalls from homemade cakes, homeware, clothing and toys, tombola’s and refreshments to enjoy, this event is not to be missed.
There will also be a Summer Grand Draw, with a first prize of £250 cash.
Felicity James, Community Fundraiser at St Michael’s Hospice says: “We would encourage everyone to come along to the annual Hastings and St Leonards Support Group Grand Summer Fayre, in aid of the Hospice. There will be bargains to be snapped up at all the stalls, no one ever leaves empty handed!
“We would like to thank the support group for all their hard work – we can’t wait for this year’s Summer Fayre. The Hastings and St Leonards Support Group are a dedicated group of volunteers who organise monthly events in aid of the Hospice, they really do an amazing job”
For more information, call 01424 456369 or email fundraising@stmichaelshospice.com
The Big Sing is back!
You can join 20 wonderfully tuneful local choirs and singing groups at St John’s Church, Brittany Road, St Leonards on Sea, for this year’s St Michael’s Hospice Big Sing on Saturday October 13th, from 11am – 9.30pm. The choirs will be performing in a variety of different styles in 25 minute slots, culminating in a Massed Messiah at 9pm.
St John’s Church has donated the venue to the Hospice for this ever popular event. The whole event is free for the public to drop in to listen to the beautiful singing but donations from those attending are more than welcome. There will be refreshments available throughout the day as well as a fabulous raffle, cards and gifts for sale.
Groups taking to the stage this year are: Oresome Sounds, Tune Up Tuesday’s, Sea Tones, Battle Community Singers, Treble Clef’s, Soundwaves Community Choir, The Melodians, Harmony One, Christchurch Singers, Rother Community Choir, All Aloud Choir, Vocality, JACS, Hastings Voice Squad, Peasmarsh and District Ladies Choir, The Class Choir, Las Pasionarias, Whatlington Singers, Hastings Gospel Choir and Hastings Philharmonic.
To find out more, please call Laura on 01424 457971 or email fundraising@stmichaelshospice.com
Calling all pub and club landlords!
St Michael’s Hospice is calling out to all pubs and clubs throughout Hastings and Rother to join them for their annual Quiz Night on Thursday October 11th. As the events will be held throughout the annual Hastings Week, there will be a special Hastings themed round, alongside the usual general knowledge questions.
If you are a pub or club landlord, or simply love a quiz and attend one regularly in your local and you would like to support the Hospice, then this event is for you! The Hospice will supply promotional materials, questions and answers, and publicise your event on its website – and you supply the venue and quizmaster.
Teams should be no more than six people and all team members are asked to pay a minimum donation of £2.50 each. Pubs and clubs are also encouraged to hold raffles and auctions to help raise more money. Since it was established in 2009, the Pub Quiz has raised an impressive £30,000, which goes towards the general running of the Hospice.
If you are interested in running a Quiz Night for the Hospice, please call Community Fundraiser, Hannah Hildreth, on 01424 456381 or email fundraising@stmichaelshospice.com.