Document

Derian news FINAL V2
5/5/09
11:18 am
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AUTUMN 2008
Derian
HOUSE
A C h i l d r e n’s H o s p i c e i n t h e c o m m u n i t y for the community
It's Christmas... well, nearly.
Come and get your cards and gifts at
our Christmas Fayre, Nov 9th 2008.
Book your tickets NOW
Fill in form on back cover
visit our website: www.derianhouse.co.uk
Derian news FINAL V2
5/5/09
11:18 am
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Dear Friends,
A year has now passed since our last newsletter , and as always with the passage of
time comes change.
We have recently had to say farewell to Trevor Briggs who took the
decision to retire from the role of General Manager after 14 years,
during which time he made a tremendous contribution to the success
of Derian House. Everyone at Derian House wishes Trevor a long and
happy retirement.
Our new General Manager, Alasdair Swan, has been a trained nurse for
27 years, with 15 years of management experience both in the NHS and
the independent sector. Managing a children’s hospice is a new
challenge for Alasdair, and one which he is already thoroughly enjoying.
However, the continued success of Derian House is not down to any
one person, but to everyone who gives so much support, either
financially or in giving up their own time to help the staff as volunteers.
Funding from the government and from Primary Care Trusts remains
minimal in comparison to the overwhelming generosity and
essential support which we receive from the community and from
local businesses.
It is through this generosity and support that we have been able to
plan and fund the building of a much needed new four-bedded young
persons’ wing. Because of advances in medical care, many of our
children are now living into early adulthood and their specialist needs
cannot be met within an adult unit. The new wing will enable us to
continue to provide care for them up to the age of 23 years. Building
work is scheduled to commence early in the Spring of 2009.
This new development will provide an even greater challenge to our
new General Manager, not only in overseeing the building of the new
wing, but also in raising the additional funds which will be required
each year to ensure that this much needed service can be sustained.
So, on behalf of all the staff, and most especially the children and their
families whom we support during the time that they are with us,
I would like to thank you all for your continued support and
generosity, and for enabling us to continue to provide the care which
is so desperately needed. Thank you.
Margaret Vinten - (Chair to the Trustees.)
Pedal Power
Fabulous Garden Party brings in the cash
for Derian
Youngsters at Holy Infant RC School in Bolton
saddled up to raise some much needed funds for
Derian earlier this year.
The pupils took part in a sponsored timed cycle race
in support of their school friend, Kier Platt, aged
eight, who attends Derian House. Kier suffers from
metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD) a life limiting
disease which affects the nervous system and means
he cannot walk, talk or swallow.
The event was sponsored by MK Cycles, and Bolton
based Red House Developments. Owner of Red House
Developments, Jim McGrath, whose son, Luke, aged
eight attends the school, will also be riding Stage 10 of
this year’s Tour de France to boost funds further for
Derian House. The keen cyclist will be joined by friend
Tony Laraman in the annual bike race.
Said Jim, “It was a pleasure to support the school in
this way, and many thanks must go to MK cycles for
their support on the day” The event raised a superb
£671.41 on the day.
Letting the train take
the strain…
out of fundraising!
Staging a garden party with a difference is Chris
Sidebottom and her husband, Frank.
For every year the couple open up their garden to
friends, relatives and colleagues for a weekend of fun
and activities.
Central to the event is the railway which Frank built in
their garden eight years ago, and which has proved to
be a real winner with visitors to their home.
Supporters of the event baked cakes and goodies to
add to the range of gifts and books on sale at the
weekend long event to raise funds for Derian House.
The weather proved a real winner too and visitors
were keen to support the event and have a good time
in the process.
A huge thank you to Chris and Frank for all their work
and an extremely novel fundraising idea.
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Looking for ways to celebrate their joint
retirement, Reg and Pauline Unwin Jones decided
to hold a garden party at their home in Swinton.
More than 200 people attended the event at Worsley
Road and the celebrations went on long into the
night. Entertainment was provided by a table top
magician, a jazz band and a cabaret singer with
children entertained with games and a wide range of
activities throughout the day. Sponsorship was
provided by local businesses, and catering and
licensed bars were available throughout the day.
A charity auction with items donated by Ryan Giggs
and Ricky Hatton raised in excess of £2,000, with
additional funds raised from raffle tickets and the
proceeds of the bar.
The fine weather on the day added to the great
atmosphere and enabled the celebrations to
continue into the small hours, and with generous
contributions made by many people the target of
Entertainment for everyone at Reg and Pauline’s event
£3,000 was more than doubled, with an amazing
£7,500 raised on the day. A huge thank you to Reg and Pauline and to all their friends for their fantastic support
Sylvia’s a shop girl once more!
The launch of the new Derian House shop in Standishgate,
Wigan marked an important step in the life of its owner,
Sylvia McDonnell-Smith, who once worked in the
premises along with her husband, Kevin McDonnell.
Sylvia and Kevin bought the shop in 1985 which they ran as
a TV and video retail business until 1991 when Kevin
suddenly fell ill. Tragedy struck as Kevin was diagnosed with
a brain tumour, and sadly died aged just 46 years of age.
Unable to cope with the business and a young child Sylvia
decided to rent the premises out, and over the years a
succession of businesses operated from the shop, the
longest serving being Wigan Gas Fires. But when they
opted to move out to a larger premises, Sylvia decided it
was time to renovate the shop with a view to supporting a
worthwhile cause. Said Sylvia, “When I called Derian House
and told them what it was I wanted to do about opening a
shop in support of the hospice, they were delighted and
gave me their full backing. It’s the first shop dedicated to
the Children’s Hospice in Wigan.
It’s like coming full circle working here again, but I’m just so
glad that I’m able to do something worthwhile.
We officially opened on February 11th, and myself
and my assistant manageress, Sandra Farrimond are
running it between us.
Anyone who feels they could help out is welcome to
get in touch. Whether they can do a day, a morning,
or just simply an hour… it doesn’t matter, anything
they can offer is a help.”
The shop, which sells a wide range of goods, will
focus predominantly on furniture and collectibles,
but Sylvia says there will also be clothes on sale in the
future. She said, “There will be special promotions
from time to time with limited edition designer wear”
The shop is at 112, Standishgate (opposite St Mary’s
Church, 2 mins from Tesco), and is open six days a week
from 9am to 5pm. Anyone who would like to be involved
with the new shop should call 01942 248999.
Derian news FINAL V2
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Goodbye Trevor….... Hello Alasdair
August saw us bidding farewell to Trevor Briggs, our General
Manager of 14 years, who decided to take early retirement.
And it is now our pleasure to welcome Alasdair
Swan as our new General Manager.
When Trevor first came to the hospice his original plan was to stay
for a maximum of 4 years, but as he became increasingly involved
in the day to day management of its infrastructure, enjoying
Alasdair, who was born and brought up in Scotland
comes from a clinical background. He trained in
Glasgow and qualified as a nurse, working in
Glasgow before moving on to management within
the NHS.
(almost) every minute, the years flew by. His management skills,
commitment to the job and dedication to the children, families
and staff were considerable and his infectious enthusiasm will be
much missed. … and will Gala Day ever be the same again without
the vision of Trevor, in his shorts, rushing round the field selling
Christmas cards!!
Trevor Briggs
So Trevor, from all your friends and colleagues both here and
in the wider community, a big thank you for your tremendous
contribution to Derian House. We wish you a long and happy
retirement with Val and the children, especially with Sam.
Enjoy every minute, you certainly deserve it.
Cracking
Easter
at Derian House
Once again youngsters at Derian House were
treated to a chocolate feast thanks to the
generosity of our many friends in the community.
Children at the hospice and their siblings all
received Easter eggs donated by a large number of
companies, individuals and many local children
who generously donated some of their own eggs to
children at Derian House.
Volunteer fundraisers David Wilde and Barbara
Wilcox went along to their local Tesco at Hindley to
accept Easter eggs and gifts on behalf of the
children from staff at the Wigan store.
Meanwhile staff and customers at the Dog & Partidge
pub at Charnock Richard donated 10 sacks of Easter
eggs to the hospice. Kirk Garbutt, who had only been
in post at the pub for 6 weeks rallied everyone
together and came along to the hospice to present
the eggs to hospice staff on behalf of his customers.
Many thanks to Tesco, the staff and customers of
the Dog & Partridge, and of
course, to all the many people
who kindly donated eggs to
the children.
Brownies’
Good Turn for Derian House
The 19th Wigan town Brownies based at Standish
Methodist Church have been polishing up their good
turn skills, for they have handed over a cheque for
more than £300 to the hospice.
They raised the money by holding a show for family
and friends, while three of the Brownies, Joy Moore,
Chloe Russell and Laura Murrayfield held a Garage
Sale, and all the Brownies took part in a sponsored
Silence Pyjama Party.
The result was a fantastic £300 which they presented
to volunteer fundraiser, David Wilde.
Fantastic fundraisers.. the 19th Wigan Town Brownies
He later took a further management role within the
independent sector where he has been responsible
for restructuring policies and procedures within a
number of Care Homes. He has been a key figure in
establishing sound working practices within the
sector, both in Scotland and more recently in
Lancashire. He is married to Alison, and they now live
in Preston with their four children
Alasdair Swan
We would like to take this opportunity to welcome Alasdair to the hospice, and
to wish him all the very best in his new position at Derian House.
Empty Bottles make great noise!
On October 6th the Empty Bottle Band held their annual charity event at St Chad’s Parish Centre on
Town Lane in Whittle le Woods.
This is the third time the band has staged the ever
growing event at this venue, with £900 raised in 2005,
and £1,600 in 2006. This year, all tickets for the event
sold out within one week of being released, with a
staggering £2,400 being raised for Derian House.
seeking sponsorship from any companies who can help them in
keeping costs to a minimum to ensure they raise as much as
possible for Derian House. A huge thank you to all the guys, who
along with their supporters, do so much to support the hospice.
The local band comprises Tony Fothergill, (Bass &
Vocals), Malcolm Patterson, (Guitar & Vocals), John
Pears, (Keyboard/Guitar and Vocals), and Matt Dee,
(Drums/ Sound and Lighting).
The 2007 event was sponsored by Worcester Bosch
who made fantastic contributions, including a £500
voucher for any Bosch item listed in their catalogue.
Other local companies who provided for the occasion
included Que Music, Darwen, The Pines Hotel, The
Malthouse Farm, The Railway Bar & Restaurant, Shaw
Hill Hotel Golf & Country Club, along with the band
members, their families and friends. Food for the
event was provided free of charge by St Chad’s.
The occasion is always a great success in raising funds
for Derian House, and the band are already looking
forward to this year’s bigger and better event, and
The boys of the Empty Bottle Band bring in the funds
Archbishop Temple School’s
Fundraising Extravaganza
Staff and pupils at Canterbury House, Archbishop Temple School really pushed the boat out in a major fundraising
drive for Derian House this year. Having chosen Derian House as their charity, pupils and staff threw all their efforts
into a range of activities which netted a fantastic £900 plus for the hospice.
Events included collecting pennies, auctioning the chocolates in advent calendars, a raffle for a large tin of chocolates,
wear what you want days and a sponsored three-legged fancy dress race. This final event was great fun and those
taking part chose a wide range of costumes including, one man and his dog, a devil, an angel, and Starskey and Hutch
who went on to win!
Miss Walsh, the Head of Canterbury House
went as Sandie from Grease along with
fellow member of staff, Mr King as Danny.
Other staff members taking part included
Mrs Tickle and Mr Stringfellow as the
bridesmaid and best man for the pupils’
own bride in full white dress with train.
In addition to her role as bridesmaid, Mrs
Tickle also ran the Manchester 10K race and
raised over £300 of sponsorship towards
the overall total… many congratulations to
her for all her hard work.
On hand to accept the cheque from the
school was volunteer fundraiser, Bill
Adams. Many congratulations to pupils
and staff at the school for all their efforts
on behalf of the hospice
Staff and pupils putting the fun into fundraising at Archbishop Temple School.
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The boys in Blue Cube Partnership kit
bring in the funds
When a group of guys from Southport Rugby
Club got to chatting about playing a charity
rugby match in the bar over a few pints, it
wasn’t long before they’d decided that
Derian House would be an ideal recipient of
the money from their efforts.
And within a very short space of time Bob
Perrin of Blue Cub Partnership had agreed to
sponsor all the kit for the event.
The match against a touring side from Devon
was played at the club in December last year,
with the Blue Cube partnership team winning
by 30 points to 10, having raised a superb
£684.20 for Derian House.
The guys have now decided to make the match
for the hospice an annual event with the next
charity match planned for March 2009….
watch this space for more details!
A huge thank you to all the guys who took part,
with particular thanks to Bob Perrin and Blue
Cube for sponsorship of the event.
Brilliant results from Rupert’s Run!
Although no stranger to running marathons, Rupert Garrett had taken a break
from serious running for the past 14 years. But this year he had a very personal
reason to dust off his running shoes and get down to some serious training.
Jimmy does it again for Derian
A Wigan postman in the shape of our own Derian House volunteer, Jimmy
Roberts went the extra mile to do his round in the name of charity.
Jimmy, 61, who lives in New Springs walked from Royal Mail’s sorting office in Hallgate
to Vitalise, a respite centre for disabled people in Southport. He completed the walk in
under nine hours, raising £300 which was split between Derian House and Vitalise.
Said Jimmy, “I’ve done walks before for Derian House, and worked at Vitalise as a
volunteer, so decided I’d walk from Wigan to Southport and divide the money between
the two. I went via Standish, down Parbold Hill, Rufford and on to Southport. The walk
was alright. You don’t want it too hot. I told my colleagues I would call it the extra mile”
Jimmy is now planning his next walk, from Skipton to Wigan, and hopes to raise even
more money next time.
Rupert takes up the story...
On May 25th I took part in the Edinburgh marathon.
This was my sixth marathon, but most certainly my
toughest to date as the previous one I ran was in 1994.
The tragic death of my niece, Laura Fox in December
1997 inspired me to put my running shoes on again
and run to raise money for a very worthy cause in the
shape of Derian House. Laura’s life was cut tragically
short at the age of 17 by a rate form of cancer known as
Ewing’s Sarcoma, a highly aggressive cancer which
usually affects young people between the ages of 10
Rupert ready for the off.
and 20. During the final months of her short life Laura
was cared for at home by her close family, during which time she also received the best
possible medical care from the staff at Derian House. This is my way of saying thank you.
Rupert not only successfully completed the marathon but also exceeded his fundraising
target and raised a phenomenal £4004.59 for the hospice!! In addition he has put us in
touch with an organisation who may be able to help us with additional funding.
A huge thank you is due to Rupert; along with our congratulations on coming out of
‘running retirement’ with such resounding success!!
Sharks bite back
to make it a winner for Derian
A group of Southport sports fans who have teamed together to form the Southport
Sharks Football Team raised £500 for the hospice after a dramatic eight a side
international football match.
The Southport Sharks, led by their coaches Dave Kelly and Mark Wissett travelled to
Torrevieja in Spain to play in a tournament against local team Torry Tigers. The trip began
badly with team member, Luke Palethorpe injured himself by slipping on the steps of the
plane before even setting foot on Spanish soil. This meant that the team had to soldier on
in 28 degrees heat for 90 minutes, with the game itself just as dramatic a their arrival in
Spain, a 6-6 thriller followed by a penalty shootout, decided by a most unexpected hero.
Luke Palethorpe dragged himself on to the pitch, determined to make his mark after the
disappointment of his injury, and duly converted the winner, with the result that the
Southport Sharks had won their third Costa Blanca Charity Shield in a row.
Allstars do it for Derian
A visit to Derian in February by top US & Canadian Wrestlers on the Allstars UK tour
resulted in a spectacular wrestling event staged at the Reebok Stadium on Sunday,
September 28th at 7pm.
The visiting wrestlers, four times Smackdown World Tag Team Champion - Renee Dupree,
three times WWE World Tag Team Champion - Pierre Lafitte, American Dragon - Ring of
Honour Champion - Bryan Danielson, MR USA - 6'9" tall - Broady Steele, WWE Star 'Ganrgrel'
- alias The Vampire were accompanied by Letitia Allmark from Allstar Wrestling Promotion
based in Birkenhead, and the visit was arranged by Mandy Levy from Derian House, whose
son Ben, trains at Allstars wrestling school. The wrestlers spent some considerable time with
the children and their families who were particularly thrilled to meet the celebrity wrestlers.
The visitors really embraced the sentiments that make Derian House such a special place
and within a couple of hours of leaving the hospice, Mandy received a phone call from
Letitia who had had a long chat with her father, Brian Dixon, Managing Director of Allstar
Wrestling & Letitia said "We want to help!" and the charity spectacular was duly arranged.
The two hour action packed event was held in the Premier Suite at the Reebok, and raised
more than £3,000 for the hospice. Many thanks to Mandy Levy, who worked so hard to
stage the event, and the amazing Allstars Team.
The team all aged between 35 and 45 play football twice a week at Greaves Hall in Banks,
and trained with the tournament in mind for the previous few months. The team has
been sponsored by Glenn Clarke, the owner of Spoilt for Choice sandwich shop on
London Street. Glenn, who has run a marathon for Derian House in the past said, “I’m just
pleased to be able to help out. Dave does a lot for charity and this is a really great cause”.
A huge thank you to Dave, and all the guys on the Southport Shark Team for their
tremendous efforts in support of the hospice.
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Allstars wrestlers join the Appeals Team at Derian House.
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All lit up with Ian & Diane
It was another glowing result this year
for Ian and Diane Clifton when they
handed over a mega cheque to Trevor
Briggs for £4,270 for Derian House.
Once again they had a bumper year in
the fundraising stakes as a result of the
fantastic illuminations outside their
house in Lincoln Close…. a major part
of their annual Christmas Appeal. The
festive lights finally went out on Saturday
6th January 2008, after shining for 37
nights to raise funds for Derian House
over the festive season.
Duty manager Will Griffith, Trevor Briggs, Pool Manager Judy Cubbage,
Ian Clifton and John Gilmore at the cheque hand-over.
Fundraising began back in November when the intrepid ladies at Heysham
Community Swimming Pool, Jean Pessoll, Elizabeth Melville and pool
lifeguard Ella Newman carried out their sponsored swim to launch the
run up to the big switch on which was conducted by local MP, Geraldine
Smith and Radio Lancashire’s John (Gilly) Gilmore on the 1st of
December. The final total raised over the festive period was £4,270
with a major donation to Derian House, and the remaining amount
distributed to local charities who assisted in the success of the event.
Said Ian, “We would like to thank the kind people of Morecambe,
Lancaster and beyond for their kindness and support. Without their
generous contributions such a marvellous achievement would not have
been possible.”
Motoring on to fundraising Success
Steve Briehney and fellow members of the
Motor Traders Association in Wigan got
together in a major fundraising drive
earlier this year in a bid to boost funds for
Derian House.
….and talking of
Christmas Lights
Derian House has much to thank Mark Higginson for over the past
few years. For Mark and his wife, Margaret, who own FestiveLights.com at Charnock Richard have donated all the lights for our
Lights of Love campaign for the past number of years.
The Festive Lights store first opened on the 1st October 1999. Since then
the store has expanded dramatically incorporating more and more
products and better displays, with the result that now there are two
floors of Christmas lights, artificial trees, festive figures, decorations and
nativity scenes.
The Lights of Love Appeal has become a focal part of our Christmas
campaign over the past few years with the hospice providing the
opportunity for supporters and friends of Derian House to send a £5
donation to celebrate the life of a friend or a loved one.
By so doing, they can then arrange for one of the hundreds of lights
surrounding the hospice, and on our Lights of Love trees, to be lit and
dedicated as they wish. In addition they receive a special card
inscribed with their name, along with a keepsake, which this year
comprises a beautiful silver star photo frame to hang on their
Christmas tree at home.
The Lights of Love Appeal has proved increasingly popular with
the result that over a thousand people each year now make
dedications in this way. With this in mind we have decided that
instead of using a “cut” tree each year, we will plant a large
Christmas Tree in the hospice grounds which will provide a lasting
focus for the campaign each year, with additional lights displayed
within the trees which surround the hospice grounds. It’s hoped that
once the new tree and lights are in place we will open the campaign with
an annual Carol Service around the tree.
Over the past few years the Appeal has raised thousands of pounds for
the care of children within the hospice. A huge thank you is due to
everyone who has supported us by dedicating a Light of Love, and of
course to Mark and Margaret Higginson for their tremendous generosity.
The result was a phenomenal £16,200 raised
for the hospice. General Manager, Trevor
Briggs was presented with the cheque on
an exceptionally cold day early this year!
A huge thank you is due to Steve and his
wife, Pauline, along with all the members of
the Motor Trades Association in Wigan who
contributed to raising the money.
Festive lights are the business when it comes to Christmas lights
Park Lark
Raising £1,310 was a walk in the park for a group
of fundraisers from the East Lancashire Institute of
Higher Education at Blackburn College.
In the Swim
brings in the funds
The event on the 23rd May involved both staff and
students at the college, all of whom had been
sponsored by friends and family to complete the
walk. Ruth Yates and Wendy Pennington of the
College said “The sponsors have been really
generous and the walk brought the whole
Institution together. Everyone had a thoroughly
enjoyable time and they are looking forward to
repeating the walk in the future.”
The money was shared between The East
Lancashire Hospice and Derian House Children’s
Hospice, and volunteer fundraiser Ken Ashby went
along to the college to accept the money on behalf
of Derian House.
Once again in September this year the Crown Inn at Bacup was
the venue for this very popular event. More than 700 people
attended, and the day was a resounding success.
The festivities included a mini restaurant where delicacies such
as Black Pudding and Rhubarb tartlets, Boudin Noir, Lancashire
Eggs and Black Pudding Potato Cakes were on the menu, along
with the now famous Black Pudding Ice Cream!!
With cookery demonstrations by celebrity Master chefs, Tom
Bridge, Sue Pilkington and Kate Ward, a tasting table where
visitors could sample exotic and fascinating international cuisine
featuring black and white pudding, and entertainment provided
by the Britannia Coconutters and the Bradshaw Mummers, there
was something for everyone!!!
Forging ahead in the fundraising stakes… the children
of the Initial Swim School present their cheque
The Initial Swim School, based at Smithills
School in Bolton organized a sponsored swim in
support of Derian House in December 2007.
More than 100 children took part in the event
which raised an astounding £3070 for the
hospice. Said, Judith Furness, Principal of the
School, “The children could swim any distance
from 5 metres to 100 metres, and each child
who took part received a certificate and a badge.
I have tremendous pleasure in enclosing a cheque
for £3070 for such a worthy cause”
Pictured are Ruth Yates on the left and Wendy Pennington
holding the cheque, with Harry Grayson of The East
Lancashire Hospice on the right and Ken Ashby of Derian
House, receiving the sponsorship money.
Fourth Annual Black Pudding Festival
Many thanks are due to Judith Furness for all her
hard work in organizing the event, and many
congratulations to all the children who took part in
making it such a successful event for Derian House.
Said Andrew Holt, proprietor of the Real Lancashire Black
Pudding Company, “Last year’s event was a bit of a flop due to
bad weather etc, and I did wonder whether to stage the event
this year, but friends and family insisted and we came back
bigger and better than before! I would like to wholeheartedly
thank everyone who was involved on the day.”
The day was entirely in support of Derian House and raised a
fantastic £1,200 which Lancashire Dialect poet, Jim Atherton and
his wife, Edna went along to collect on behalf of the hospice. Jim
and Edna, themselves no strangers to fundraising for the
hospice, staged a Lancashire evening at the Crown Inn and
raised an additional £135.
Many thanks to everyone involved in keeping the traditions and
the food of Lancashire alive, and raising much needed funds for
Derian House at the same time.
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Derian’s Spanish Connection!
One of Derian’s overseas supporters who went all
out to raise money for the hospice in a vibrant and
unusual way earlier this year was Ken Webster.
The Pilgrimage trail is called in Spanish “Camino Santiago” and
winds its way from France across the mountains of Northern
Spain. In English it is “The Way of St James”.. We spoke to Ken
before the event as he prepared for the Pilgrimage Trail.
Ken, who lives with his wife Val in Denia, Alicante on the
Costa Blanca undertook a Pilgrimage to the Tomb of
St James in Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain, to
help raise funds for the hospice.
“Along with two dear friends, Ron and Jean, we are beginning to
increase our training program in readiness for the big day, and
pray that my dodgy left leg can take the strain. We leave Sarria on
the 30th April and plan to be in Santiago on the 8th May having
walked 130 kilometers carrying all of our equipment on our backs
to receive our “Compostela” which is a certificate issued by the
Church authorities to all those that complete the Pilgrimage.
By asking for some sponsorship I hope to help these terminally ill
kids, some who have a very short future, in making their
remaining time on earth a pleasant one”. Along with his friends
who were walking for another good cause, they covered the
distance in 7 days. They completed the Final Major Stage of the
journey from Sarria in Lugo Province and finished at the doors of
the Cathedral in Santiago in the Province of La Coruna. Ken, who
underwent triple bypass surgery only 6 years ago was determined
to finish this testing walk in order to collect the sponsored
donations promised, and in the event raised more than £1,000 for
Derian House. Many congratulations to Ken on his great
achievement and amazing determination!
Another Garden Party Success for the girls
Journey’s end for courageous Ken
Making it happen…
When Bethany Ridley first got together with
her friends, Katie Herring, Katie Johnson and
Emily Wright in September 2006 to stage a
dance show to raise funds for Derian House, it
never occurred to her it would be the start of a
series of fundraising ventures for the hospice.
that’s Derian House volunteer David Wilde
The girls’ latest fundraising success was a
Garden Party in the garden of Bethany’s
grandma, which featured the girls singing,
dancing and staging a selection of
cheerleading routines. Along with raffles
which included meals at the Farrington
Lodge and Pines Hotel as prizes, the event
raised a superb £237 for the hospice.
The May show features masses of crafting techniques from beading
to braiding and cardmaking to scrapbooking and provided crafters
throughout the region with thousands of inspirational ideas and
unique materials for crafting enthusiasts.
Summer success for Bethany & friends!
Making sure the cash continues to roll in from The Derian House
Craft Fayres is volunteer fundraiser and representative, David Wilde.
For David from Wigan is to be found at a range of Derian House events
throughout the year, along with the series of Craft Fayres which he
organizes, and at the craft extravaganza at the Reebok, “Make It”.
Every year David produces a brochure listing all the venues for the
Derian Fayres throughout the year. If you would like to receive a
copy of the brochure, or are an exhibitor yourself, and would like to
book a stand at one of the Fayres, contact David on 07930 674567
for more information.
Magnificent Seven hit the heights…
When three local footballers, aka Richard Farron, and Michael & Rob Christopher retired from playing the beautiful
game earlier this year, a great void was created in their lives. Richard, in his wisdom, floated the idea of attempting
the 3 Peaks Challenge, one of the most arduous challenge events in the UK.
It involves climbing and descending Ben Nevis (highest peak in Scotland), Scafell Pike (highest in England) and then Snowdon
(highest in Wales) all within 24 hours. Being the eternal optimists, some would say crazy fools, Rob and Michael, the
Christopher brothers, decided to accept his offer on the basis that if they could survive 10 years playing in the same football
team as Richard they could surely survive this challenge. To ensure that the senior members of the team would have the
back up to get round, some top class additions have been added to the challenge team, namely Rob (the driver), Tim
Jackson, Elizabeth Macleod, Gary Brown, Brian Dickinson, and the undoubted star of the show, Maddy, the black Labrador.
They received a tremendous boost in the shape of a 17 seater minibus to transport them and their equipment from one
challenge site to the next. Motor Motion, the complete car care centre and vehicle hire company based in Standish
generously agreed to sponsor the Three Peaks Challenge through the provision of the support minibus. Said Richard, “This
made a tremendous difference to us, and we are extremely grateful to Kate Owen and Motor Motion for their fantastic
support.” The team, along with Maddy, were all in very serious training for this challenge and were in peak condition by the
29th June when they attempted the fundraising challenge which they hoped would raise a substantial amount of money
for Derian House .
The Magnificent Seven successfully completed the challenge of climbing the highest mountains of Scotland, England and
Wales in 23 hours 23 minutes. The team leader Richard said "the weather conditions were excellent on Ben Nevis and Scafell
but on Snowdon we had a continuous battle against the driving rain, a relentless gail and poor visibility, 10 feet if that at
times. A special thanks goes to my brother Andy Farron, who came along for the drive, for keeping us all awake whilst we
were driving (and for his very funny jokes, tips on how to flirt and for a constant supply of sweets).
The team and I would like to thank our major sponsor Motor Motion of Standish and their Sales Manger - Kate Owen for
providing us with a very safe, spacious and efficient means of transport for the three day period, we would have been lost
without them.
Said Susie Poppitt, Fundraising Manager for Derian House, “We really appreciate all the effort everyone in the team put into
the challenge. Events such as this require a great deal of dedication, not only to the challenge itself, but all the preparation
and fitness training beforehand, and we would like to thank everyone on the team, especially Maddy, for all their hard work,
and many congratulations to everyone on completing the course within the time 24 hour limit”.
6
Derian news FINAL V2
5/5/09
11:20 am
Page 7
Forget Me Not ladies lunch
proves a winner at the Pines!
Our spectacular Forget Me Not Ladies Lunch in May this year proved to be
a winner in more ways than one!
The lunch, which was held at the Pines Hotel,
Clayton le Woods, was a ladies only
celebration event and focused on fashion,
fashion accessories and beauty.
The day itself dawned on a beautiful May
morning and began with a Champagne and
Canape Reception served in the beautiful
surroundings of the Dixon Suite with its
magnificent grounds and verandah, and
guests had the opportunity to take time to
peruse the range of hair, beauty, portrait and
fashion products on display before being
escorted into the suite itself for an amazing
demonstration by Christine Cartwright, Estee
Lauder’s leading consultant.
Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the sumptuous
three course lunch before being entertained
by the elegant models in our glamorous
“Celebration” fashion show.
Featuring outfits by Party Mania for a range of
themed celebrations it was a vibrant and unusual
show which caught everyone’s imagination.
Our special jewellery auction which everyone
entered into with great enthusiasm resulted in
one lucky guest winning a gold and diamond
necklace donated by Beaverbrooks, who
generously, not only donated the prize, but
actually matched the amount raised by the raffle,
which amounted to an additional £1,220.
The fashion show organised by Barbara’s of
Standish proved a winner with all the ladies
present and Barbara’s glamorous models
showcased a selection of garments for a whole
range of celebratory occasions, culminating in a
wedding extravaganza.
Everyone had a fabulous day and the end result
was a wonderful £10,000 raised for Derian House.
Ohhhh, Oklahoma!…
the boys bring in the funds
Raising their glasses to a great day!!
With lots of calls for the Forget Me Not lunch to become a regular fixture
in the Derian House calendar, watch this space for information about next
year’s event!
Golden Couple’s
A trio of United Utilities staff swapped their work clothes for
stetsons to raise cash for charity.
Celebration Cash
Stephen Coulston, and Philip Jones, both from Great Sankey,
and Andrew Nixon from Penketh, took part in the company’s
annual fundraising day at the Anderton Centre in Chorley, and
helped raise a tremendous £1,750.
Local couple Mr & Mrs Bland from Burnley made it a
double celebration when they made a generous
donation to the NSPCC and Derian House at the end
of last year
Themed around the Sound of the Musicals, the trio donned
fancy dress of stetsons and six shooters in an inspired homage
to the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic, “Oklahoma!” guided
by captain, Andy Ross, Oklahoma! were the eventual winners in
the team competition, with fellow employees Chris Connor
and Mik Gillespie completeing the line up, Oklahoma! was one
of more than 20 team taking part in the fun filled day brimming
with challenging activities.
They raised the money by holding a show for family
and friends, which three of the Brownies, Joy Moore,
Chloe Russell and Laura Murrayfield held a Garage
Sale, and all the Brownies took part in a sponsored
Silence Pyjama Party. The result that each charity
received a very generous £435. Congratulations and
many thanks to Mr & Mrs Bland.
From Bugsy Malone and Starlight Express to the Wizard of Oz
and Flashdance, all the teams wore fancy dress and entered
into the spirit on the day. Sarah Charnock, United Utilities
community partnerships advisor, based at Lingley Green
Business Park in Great Sankey, helped organize the event. She
explained, “This year we had more than 120 employees taking
part, which is fantastic, and the costumes just get better and
better. We’ve had lots of feedback from employees saying how
much they enjoyed the day.
Competitions included tree-climbing, canoeing, orienteering
and even puppet making. The most important thing was that
everyone who took part had a great day – they practiced
working as a team and using their skills to raise money for
charity”. The team donated all their funds to be split between
Derian House and Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool.
In addition to the donation from Oklahoma! , Derian House also
benefited from a donation from the Flashdance Team. The
team entered a number of activities on the day including
archery and tree climbing, along with designing and building a
goat out of a range of bizarre materials. The team raised a
superb £170 for the hospice.
The boys from Hart’s
get going when the
going gets tough
The Tough Guys prove
they’re all Hart
Proving that it takes stamina to be part of the team at James Hart
Commercial Vehicles in Chorley, a group of guys from the company took part
in a major “Tough Guy Challenge”.
David Orritt, Phillip and James Hart, Patrick O’Keefe and Adam Mitchell all signed up the the event which was
held in Perton, Wolverhampton. With an assault course, along with a 6 kilometre cross country course which
took 3 hours to complete, the lads from Harts were up there amongst the best and Phillip and David crossed
the line together at position 1198 out of more than 3000 taking part.
Their concerted efforts raised a fantastic £2,745 for the hospice….. a huge thank you to all the tough guys at Harts.
Fancy that…. Oklahoma! and Flashdance bring in the funds.
7
Derian news FINAL V2
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11:21 am
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SUPPORT GROUPS STARS
Our fantastic Support Groups around the region continue to support the hospice with great enthusiasm. We are
unfailingly appreciative of all our Support Group members who give so generously of their time to come up with ever
more ingenious ways of fundraising.
KENDAL
Once again the Bolton Support Group has been busy with a whole
range of fundraising events in support of Derian House. In addition
to their own activities, the group has been supported again by
many people in the community, along with a number of organizations who have staged
events to raise funds for the hospice. These include the 4th Bolton Brownie Pack, Rivington
Rifle Men, the Spinners Arms Adlington for the proceeds from Christmas Chocolate Raffle,
Churchills at Bolton who organised a Christmas Hair Cut and Shave and raised £642, and many
other people who have made donations, raised money or had collection boxes.
BOLTON
Said Secretary to the group, Christine Pearson, “Once again we are grateful for the support
of the Mayor of Bolton, Councillor Mrs Barbara Ronson, who invited the Group to have
a promotional stall at the Charity Christmas Fayre held at the Town Hall. The new Mayor,
Councillor Tony Connell has chosen Derian House and two other local organisations to
benefit from his Charity Appeal for this year and for this too we are extremely grateful.
Special thanks must go to the various Masonic Lodges in the Bolton area who donated
£1,500 to Derian House from the Masonic Funds. Regulars at the Greenwood Hotel in
Horwich organised a sponsored bike ride and £2,000 was raised and donated to Derian
House from this event.” The Group itself has been busy and have held a very successful
Race Night, Bingo and Fashion Show. All the members of the group would like to thank
everyone who has attended these events and hope they will continue to support the
Group at the events planned for the rest of the year.
Despite their distance from Derian House, Kendal Support Group continue to be closely
involved with fundraising for the hospice, and have been exceptionally busy in recent
months with a range of fundraising events in support of the hospice.
Said Louis Mason, Chairman of Kendal Support Group, “We’d like to thank all the people
involved in helping make the BBQ on Saturday 26th July in Hincaster in aid of Derian
House Children’s Hospice the resounding success it was. With the help of many visitors
and donations we raised over £2400.00.”
In addition the immediate past President of Grange Lions was there to present a cheque
to the value of £200.00.
Also there to present a cheque of £810.00 raised by competing in the London 10K Run
was Duncan Mason formally of Hincaster and Mark Harris his friend.
This made the total raised on the day to £3400.00.
Louis continued, “Many children from our area attend and receive great benefits from the
care given by the staff at Derian House in Chorley, and we are delighted to do as much as
we can to support the tremendous work of the hospice”
A huge thank you is due to Louis and all the members of the Kendal Support Group for
their ongoing support of the hospice.
WARRINGTON
PRESTON
Once again the Preston Group have worked tirelessly in support of the hospice.
Margaret Parker reports on their activities to date.
Despite being probably the smallest of the
Derian House Support Groups the
Warrington Group certainly doesn’t let that
hold them back in the fundraising stakes!
“Last September Waterstone’s in Preston very kindly donated a signed copy of the new
Harry Potter book which we were able to auction at a Chinese Night we held at Yu and
You Chinese Restaurant near Preston. The book was the star item of the auction and
attracted a lot of bids. It was finally bought by Vinnie Yu, one of the owners of the
restaurant, who is a great Harry Potter fan and was absolutely thrilled with his £600
purchase! The evening was a great success and raised over £3,600 for Derian House.
Once again Warrington team have gone all
out to hold events, stage activities and sell
goods in a bid to raise as much money as
possible for the hospice. With a fantastic
£8,500 to present to Derian, they invited
Trevor Briggs along to a presentation night
at Cadishead Conservative Club.
At the end of November we held our annual Sunday Lunch at The Chop House in
Preston. As usual this event was a sell out and raised a fabulous £4000.
The main fundraiser of the year was our Derian House Ball held in April at Stanley House,
Mellor. The event was attended by 140 people who enjoyed a fantastic evening starting
with cocktails, followed by dinner during which we were entertained by Salene and her
electric violin. After dinner, guests enjoyed a bit of nostalgia dancing to Seventies
sounds with Lionel Vinyl and his DJ. The auction was once again a great success raising
a magnificent £9,800 which brought the total amount raised on the night to £14,000.”
With special guest Jimmy Cricket to make the
presentation the Group staged a fantastic
evening for the hospice.
Many congratulations to everyone on the
Warrington Group and many thanks for all
their hard work.
The Preston Committee are now taking a well earned break, but are hoping to be
holding another event early next year.
The longest day and a new record
for
Steve & Andy
When Steve Halliwell and Andy Runciman decided to raise some funds for Derian House, they
went all out and set a new golf record for Bolton Golf Club, the previous record of 126 holes
having been set many years ago by Bob Longworth, the club professional and his friend.
Steve and Andy, who had played in a longest day charity golf event the previous
year, were up well before dawn to be on the course for first light on Sunday June
22nd this year. Steve takes up the story…..
“We arrived at the club along with the two caddies and one mad supporter at 3:50am but
had to wait till 4:05 am to be able to tee off due to the bad light and weather. But once
underway, there was no stopping us!
We completed 128 holes (7 rounds and 2 holes) of stroke play golf (i.e. we had to finish off
every hole in accordance with the rules of golf ) at 21:40 (17 hrs 35mins), and during that
time only took one half hour break to have a shower and some proper food, having
basically lived off Nutrigrain bars and Gatorade all day.
We went through 13 caddies, 9 electric trolley batteries, hit around 530 shots each and we
walked around 30 miles each in the process.
Our current total is £3.462.50 with £392.00 to follow shortly from National Grid and a
further unknown amount to be donated from the Club Captain of Deane Golf Club
(50% of his fund raising day) so we should reach, if not exceed £4,000.00.
Why did we do it??? Well after raising £3,650 in the 72 holes for Macmillan last year we
decided to set out to beat the record set by the club pro. And we chose Derian House
because my wife’s cousin, Siobhan and her husband, Ralph had a baby son, Thomas just a
few months after my wife and I. Tommy , who was diagnosed with SMA, was cared for by
Derian House and lived for just three months, dying at the hospice on January 17th 2007.
It was devastating to my wife’s family, and the fact we had a perfectly fit son, and Ralph
and Siobhan had to bury their little boy, was just horrific. The strength of those two people,
together with the help of the hospice staff was inspiring, and we thought that we had to
help in any small way possible.
The result was a very long day’s golf, and some money raised for Derian House. May I just
say how proud Andy and myself are in both the golf achievement, and being able to
support such a very worthwhile and deserving charity.”
Almost in the dark, but bringing home the cash… Steve and Andy make it a winner!
8
Many congratulations to Steve and Andy on such an amazing achievement, and such a
fantastic amount of money raised for Derian House.
Derian news FINAL V2
5/5/09
11:22 am
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Wanderers
make it a winner
for Derian …
More than £1,000 was raised by the boys from the Academy at
Bolton Wanderers when they adopted Derian House as their
charity earlier this year.
Said Fran Walsh, Head of Education and Welfare at the club, “The lads have worked
fantastically hard over the previous weeks to raise £1,110, and we’re extremely
proud of what they’ve achieved”.
And the boys were back again, bringing gifts of a
different kind when they visited the hospice to
hand over a vast selection of Easter eggs to
youngsters at the hospice.
A huge thank you is due to the boys from the
Academy, and to Fran and the rest of the
Education and Welfare team for all their
support throughout the year.
Getting to know you.
grow
your own
Bolton Wanderers Academy make it an ‘Eggstraspecial’ Easter.
Derian House was the lucky
beneficiary from a fundraising
venture organised by Mrs Angela
Lee and her daughter, Sophie,
who featured in the Channel 4
film, “Grow Your Own”.
Mrs Lee and Sophie organised a
showing of the film as a fundraiser in
memory of little Eva Heeks who was
cared for by the hospice and died at
home in December 2004.
Eva and her family were supported by the Hospice At Home Team.
The film plot features gardeners at an English allotment who are shaken
up when a group of refugees are given plots there. As therapies for
dealing with the horror of war, exile or family separation go, you wouldn't
think that growing cabbages would do much good, but the Family
Refugee Support Project refutes that presumption in spades and soil and
seeds…. from which sprouted the premise for “Grow Your Own. “
Chris’s Winter Warmer for Derian
Sophie, from Darwen told hospice staff how much she’d enjoyed being
involved with the film, and along with her mum, Angela was delighted to be
able to present the money, along with a copy of the film in memory of Eva.
For Chris opted out of his Royal Mail winter uniform in favour of wearing his shorts throughout
the winter months in exchange for sponsorship money … to support Derian House, along with
a local Heart Foundation.
When postal worker Chris Hayes came up with an idea to warm the hearts of the people at two
local charities, it was at the expense of his own creature comforts.
The result… an amazing £900 for Derian House. Thanks Chris…. oh, and by the way…nice legs!!
Sana Shimmies her way to
success
Angela and Sophie present the cheque to Appeals Secretary, Judy Nix
Running Total
Sandra Snape came up with a
monster cheque when she arrived at
Derian House to present the money
she’d raised from running in the
Loch Ness Marathon.
Sandra from Blackburn took part in
the gruelling event, and completed
the course in 3 hours 48 minutes, and
raised a superb £668.50 in
the process.
Many thanks to
Sandra and all
her supporters.
Sandra hands
over her
cheque to
Judy
Nix
A Chorley teacher feels she’s found the prefect way
to boost women’s self esteem … belly dancing!!
Sana Verdi was born and brought up in Lebanon and says she hasn’t stopped dancing since she
took her first dance steps at the age of three. She began teaching Arabic dance in the UK just
over a decade ago, and now runs The Phoenician Dancers, a group whose members, aged 16 to
65, now number more than 70, meet every Tuesday at Astley Village Community Centre.
It was set up five years ago and performs at a range of venues throughout the area raising
money for local charities.
Said Sana, who works at Runshaw
College in Leyland, “Anyone willing to try
something different can do it. It’s good
exercise and it tones the body. It gives
women confidence and allows them to
see themselves as the beautiful women
they are. I’m very keen to promote
Arabic/Middle Eastern culture through
music and dance, language and cuisine.
With belly dancing there’s plenty of
shimmying, wiggling and shaking hips
in every direction, but most importantly
it’s about boosting self esteem and
making friends, you don’t need to be a
particular shape or size. We’re very
passionate about what we do, and we
do it with grace and elegance.”
Sana shimmies her way to success
At the end of last year the group entered a competition run by Debenhams to find the most
popular club in Britain and were one of the eventual winners of the competition. Derian House
fundraiser, Sara White went along to Astley Community Centre to collect a Debenhams voucher
on behalf of the hospice and to meet members of the group..
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Derian news FINAL V2
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11:22 am
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PULSE staff raise £18,000
It’s that time again…. yes,
for Children’s Hospice Derian House
the Christmas Fayre
will soon be here!!!
PULSE staff have worked together to raise £18,000 for a cause very close to their
hearts. In 2007, 3 year old Sadie, daughter of PULSE Operations Director, Steve Aimson
was diagnosed with Alpers’ Disease - a rare and aggressive neurological illness.
Sadie’s worsening condition meant that Steve and his family turned to Derian House
where Sadie was cared for until March this year when sadly she died at the hospice.
Steve’s colleagues at PULSE wanted to do something to help Sadie and other children
in her position and with their encouragement, Steve set up a foundation to raise crucial
funding to support the work of Derian House and to increase awareness of the fantastic
care and support their dedicated staff give to terminally ill children and their families.
Steve's colleagues at PULSE have raised £18,000 for the hospice and are delighted to
present the funds to Derian House in memory of Sadie to help other children who are
cared for there. PULSE are now setting up a charitable trust which will be called 'Sadie’s
Foundation' to raise money for different charities in memory of Sadie. Commenting on
the donation, Susie Poppitt of Derian House said; "This is a fantastic amount of money
raised by the staff at PULSE in memory of Sadie, and we are delighted, as a charity, to be
the first recipient of a donation from the Foundation which has been set up in her name”
Richard MacMillan, CEO of PULSE explained; "This has been a tragic year for Sadie's
family whose loss has touched everybody in our company. I am proud of the colleagues,
friends and investors at PULSE who have all contributed to this worthy cause."
A huge thank you is due to all the staff and PULSE, and particularly to Sam Smith who
co-ordinated the fundraising campaign.
Staff from PULSE visit Derian
to hand over the cheque
Just when everyone had agreed that last year had simply flown by, along
came 2008 and set a whole new standard of its own…. one moment it
was January, now here we are gearing up for the 2008 Christmas Fayre!
The hospice staff have selected a range of gifts and cards to stage an afternoon of
Christmas cheer on Sunday, November 9th. Featuring Christmas cards, Calendars,
Gift wrap and Christmas card holders, Advent calendars, and gifts from around the
world, the event is sure to prove popular, and staff are hoping for a record number
of visitors to pour into the hospice.
Once again Derian House has extended its range of Christmas goods to include
beautiful Christmas gifts for all the family, a superb collection of cello-wrapped
cards for both personal and corporate use, gift wrap, diaries and our ever popular
hospice calendar. . This year the illustrations are a collection of animal paintings
which have been created by our children and young people at the hospice.
Under the creative tuition of qualified artist and Care Team member, Louise Heller,
in producing the pictures the children have used their hands and feet, fingers and
toes, and even the occasional nose to produce a range of drawing and painting
which are at once both poignant and inspirational! At Derian House we embrace
different approaches to painting which enable all our children and young people
to express their creativity, and have fun doing so.
There will also be Christmas beanies on sale once again. Universally popular, these
delightful little creatures sell at £1 each, and will be available to buy individually,
or for people to take to sell on behalf of the hospice. If you are able to take a box
of 24 to sell on to friends, neighbours, work colleagues etc, please contact the
Appeals Team.
The Christmas Fayre will be open from 11.30am ‘til 3.30pm on Sunday, November
9th. For further information about the event please contact the Appeals Office
on 01257 27127
Spikey gives Santa a hand
Chorley comedian, Dave Spikey brought some festive cheer to the hospice when
he joined Santa Claus for a Christmas visit to youngsters at Derian House.
An assortment of gifts from games and puzzles to books and art materials were
delivered by Santa and his celebrity helper.
They were there on behalf of a number of companies who had joined forces in
association with Toymaster to donate gifts to the youngsters at the hospice.
A spokesman for the company said, “We believe that children at the hospice who
perhaps can’t enjoy Christmas in their own home deserve a bit of a lift at this time of the
year. We were delighted to be able to support the hospice along with Santa and Dave”.
Dave kept both children and staff entertained with his own unique brand of humour
as he handed out gifts to the children.
Dave Spikey makes it
all smiles at Derian
Chorley: where people go to fight
When local lads, Andrew Huddy and Ian Loughlin
of Carrbank Creations put their minds to doing
something, they do it in style.
… or in this case, raise lots of money
for Derian House!
For Andrew and Ian, the creators of the
documentary, “Chorley: where people go to
fight”, found themselves involved in a project
that took up 18 months of their time and
introduced them to a wealth of local talent,
and a fascinating selection of local heroes!.
The two guys funded the filming of the
documentary themselves and used all their
own equipment in the making of it. They
approached presenters, actors, singers, sports
personalities and musicians with the result that
the film which provides a fascinating insight
into the market town of Chorley features
appearances by Bill Beaumont, Carl Crook
(Boxer), Dave Spikey, Phil Cool, Ken Morely (Reg
of Coronation Street), James Walsh (pop group
Starsailor), Kev Simm (Liberty X pop group),
Kate Garraway (GMTV), Ian Brown (Ex Stone
Roses' singer), Michael Jennings (boxer), and
Joe Gilgun of Emmerdale.
Andrew Huddy, Joe Gilgun and Ian Loughlin visit
the hospice.
10
The film was showcased at Chorley Little
Theatre over three nights last year (all
showings sold out), and was recently shown
again as part of Chorley's Mid-Summer Festival.
The film aimed to show the many traditions of
Chorley whilst incorporating the fighting spirit
of people from the town.
Andrew and Ian visited the hospice in February
this year, along with Emmerdale actor, Joe
Gilgun, (Eli Dingle) to present a cheque for a
fantastic £2,720 to Derian House. Said Andrew,
“The film raised a substantial amount of money
from its showings and we wanted to donate
the funds raised to a worthy local cause. Derian
House seemed the obvious choice.”
A huge thank you is due to Andrew and Ian,
along with many congratulations on a very
successful film that completely endorses and
reflects the spirit of Chorley and its people.
Derian news FINAL V2
5/5/09
11:22 am
Page 11
From this year’s youngest
to its oldest fundraiser
At 6 months old Charlie Bamber is already on
the fundraising trail! Charlie was on hand to
present the Appeals Team at Derian House
with cheques totaling £235 raised by his
family and friends at his Christening.
Charlie’s parents, Andrew and Kim Bamber
suggested that instead of gifts guests at Charlie’s
Christening may prefer to make a donation to
Derian House.
Charlie Bamber
w
7yr old Caitriona Muir
Said Kim, “Our little boy, Charlie is now 6 months
old, and we are fortunate that he is a healthy and
very playful baby. We hope this money can go
towards the good work that you do”. Many thanks
to Andrew, Kim and, of course, Charlie.
Celebrating her birthday and supporting Derian
at the same time was 7 year old Caitriona Muir.
This was the second time Caitriona had asked for
money for Derian House instead of birthday
presents. Last year when she was six she raised
£186, and this year went one better and raised
over £200. Well done Caitriona!
And joining this group of generous minded supporters is Lilian Berry
from Bolton.
Lilian asked for donations in lieu of gifts for her 90th birthday and raised a fantastic
£100 for the hospice. A huge thank you to Lilian for her very welcome gift.
Precious Child…
Precious child is the name of a new solo album performed by musician
Rex Stimson. Rex first got to hear about Derian House in 2007 when his
daughter, Ruby, aged three, was diagnosed with a brain tumour.
Something
fishy
Mr K. Mcmahon, Principal of St Mary’s College,
and Mr F. Dixon, Vice Principal represented the
management team, while Mr R. Burrow, Head of
Business Studies, and Mr S Urwin, Head of
Accounts represented the Staff. The match was
held on Lowerhouse Lodge, in Burnley thanks to
the kind permission of Burnley and Pendle
Angling Association. The staff won with a 70lb
catch to the management’s 15lb, the biggest
catch of the day being a 14lb carp. The funds
raised from sponsorship were divided between
Derian House, the Motor Neurone Association
and Christies, each receiving a cheque for £140.
He takes up the story…….
The first time we visited Derian House was for Ruby’s initial hydrotherapy
session at the hospice. Physios at Derian House would work with Ruby in
the pool, and at the time, that was our only involvement with the
hospice. Ruby responded very well to radiotherapy and everything
looked rosy. At that time I decided to reform my band Strawberry Story
to do a gig in aid of two charities that had been very supportive, Ali's
Dream (research into childhood brain tumours) and Wish upon a Star. We
raised about £2000 and the band took off again, we released a couple of
singles and toured the country.
In January 2008 Ruby’s symptoms returned and her condition became
terminal. At that point we were reintroduced to Derian House, their support
was (and still is) hugely helpful. Just knowing that there is a large team of
people who really care and are fantastic at the jobs they do, is of huge
solace to my wife, Joanne and I. It is very difficult for friends to support you
at times like these because they usually have no experience of something
so dreadful and feel awkward discussing it with you, often talking about
everything but. So the main benefit of Derian for me is that understanding,
knowing they understand and relate to what you are going through.
In April we spent a week at Derian House. It was during this time that I
started to write the songs for a new album as I was so inspired by the
environment and the compassion we felt. Whilst we were at the hospice
there was a funeral. We had previously visited the chapel and were so
moved by all the cards and messages there.
Staff at St Mary’s College, Blackburn
decided a fishing competition would
be a fun way to raise funds for some
local charities, with Management
throwing down a challenge to the Staff to see
who could net the biggest catch.
The one that didn’t get away: the 14lb carp that spelled
victory for the staff team.
More fishy tales were afoot with a match
organised by the Coppull Anglers. Richard
Bishop who was the Match Secretary for the day
presented Derian House with a cheque for £230
which was raised by the anglers through
sponsorship of the match.
Many thanks are due to the Coppull Anglers
themselves, Coppull Anglers Tackle Shop who
provided a prize for the raffle, and to all the
sponsors who were so generous.
Left to right, Coppull Anglers: Will, Simon, Gaz,
Stewart, Rob, Rich, Darran and Archie
On the day of the funeral the staff placed flowers at the door to signify
what was going on……I found that so lovely. One of the songs 'Lonely
Town' has the line 'leave your flowers by the door' and is directly
influenced (like many of the songs) by Derian House.
The album is my first solo album, it is called 'Precious Child' and is
released on 4th October. It will be available from that date from
www.myspace.co/rexstinson for £5.99 All profits will go to Derian House.
I am also playing a launch for the album at the Green Windmill, Stretford.
Manchester. (Details on the web site).
Ruby has responded very well to chemotherapy and is looking forward
to meeting her new baby brother due 5th December.
The Cactus Crew
do it again for Derian!
Strutting their stuff in aid of charity…
that’s the members of the Cactus Line
Dance Club! The group from the
thriving club in Briarfield staged the
latest of their fundraising events with
the result that Derian House was better
off by an amazing £1,414.23
Lining up for fundraising success…
that’s the Cactus Line Dancing Team
Silence is golden…..
The students at Our Lady Queen of Peace School are a versatile lot. For while one group of students were busy raising funds from a
sponsored silence, another section of the school were taking part in a sports event with a difference.
For the 12 hour sports event which involved Year 11 pupils took place throughout the night!! The students organized and took part in the
innovative sponsored event which raised a superb £800 for the hospice. Meanwhile the “silent” students raised an additional £134 without
saying a word!!! Many thanks to both groups for a fantastic fundraising feat!!
The team at Our Lady Queen of Peace hand over their cheque
11
Derian news FINAL V2
5/5/09
11:24 am
Page 12
Is that your final answer ?
January this year saw two of Lancashire’s best known comedy stars, Paddy
McGuinness and Peter Kay facing a grilling from Chris Tarrant when they
took part in the celebrity edition of “Who Wants to be a Millionaire”.
The celebrity duo and real life pals were all set to raise pots of money for their chosen
charities, Paddy opting for the British Heart Foundation, and Peter for Derian House.
However, whilst at one point the pair were steaming ahead in their fundraising endeavours
they were unfortunate enough to make a choice that saw them back at the £1,000 mark.
Nevertheless, in the event the two charities benefited immensely from the personal
generosity of the stars, and of course from the huge boost of being name checked on the
prime time show.
Hospice General Manager, Trevor Briggs was invited down to London by Peter to watch the
recording of the show. Said Trevor, “It was quite an experience to be invited down and
watch the whole thing being filmed. We were
delighted when Peter decided we would be his
chosen charity, and while the money raised is
obviously important, the show itself helped raise
our profile which will help with future
fundraising. It’s so important for us as we are one
of the busiest children’s hospices nationally and
only receive funding for six weeks a year. We are
so grateful to Peter who has supported us
significantly over the years”
Peter Kay and Paddy McGuiness face Chris Tarrant on the celebrity show
Halloween Hot Ice
…the coolest show in town!
The international stars of the Hot Ice Show at
Pleasure Beach, Blackpool are inviting you to join
them for a spectacular evening in aid of Derian
House on Friday, October 31st at 7.30pm.
This is another fantastic performance from the
ice champions who comprise the cast of this
breath taking show with stunning choreography
from award-winning Phil Winston, and is now
available through Derian House at an amazingly
discounted rate. If you think you’ve seen ice
shows before …. this takes the experience to a
whole new level. Stageworks at the Arena
searches the international ice skating circuit for
the very best within this extreme sport, turning
the world’s top athletes into outstanding
performers to produce flawless ice theatre
packed with glamour and an edge of danger.
And for those who want to make a full night of
it, we can offer coach transport to the Hot Ice
Show and a trip through the world famous
illuminations before making the journey home,
all for the inclusive price of £20. With coach pick
up points in Leyland, Preston, Chorley, Wigan,
Southport, Bolton, Blackburn and Burnley there
are plenty of options to choose from.
This is the ultimate in extreme entertainment, with
laser lighting and state of the art sound meeting
the pure thrill, speed and grace of exciting live
performance, and is now exclusively available to
Derian House supporters at an incredibly low price.
This is a one night only opportunity to see
all action show for all the family.
For tickets and further information
contact the Appeals Office at Derian
House on 01257 271271
So come along on Friday, October 31st and see
this breathtaking show, at the fantastic price of
£12.50 per ticket, with added discounts of buy
five tickets, get one FREE.
Name………………………………………………………………………....……
Address……….……………………………………………………………………
Option 1 - Ticket for the Hot Ice Spectacular - £12.50
Post Code………………..……. Tel No…….............……..................................………
transport to the event and tour through the illuminations
after the show. Pick up points throughout the area - £20
I wish to order ....................... tickets
Added discount - buy 5 tickets get the 6th onr FREE.
Please find enclosed a cheque payable to Drian House Children’s Hopsice to the
I wish to order ....................... tickets with transport
value o f……………………………………
Return booking form to:
Chancery Road, Astley Village,
Chorley, PR7 1DH. Your tickets will
be sent out by return of post.
Derian House Children’s Hospice
Chancery Road Astley Village
Chorley PR7 1DH
Tel: 01257 271271/233300
Fax: 01257 234861
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.derianhouse.co.uk
Registered Charity Number 1005165
12
I wish to pay by Credit/Debit Card No.………......……………………………
Valid from…………....….. Expiry date……………….Issue Number……………
Security Code ……………(last 3 numbers on reverse).
If you have an item of news you would like
including in our next newsletter, or have any
fund-raising ideas you would like to tell us
about, please contact Susie Poppitt in the
Appeals Office on 01257 271271.
If you do not wish to receive any
further mailings from Derian
House, please tick the box and
return this slip, with your name
and address to the Appeals
Office at Derian House.
designed and produced by primary graphics
Option 2 - Ticket for the Hot Ice Spectacular, plus coach
………………………………………………………………………………..……