St Ann’s Hospice is appealing for virtual fundraising ideas to help meet its running costs of £20,000 A DAY after Coronavirus has forced it to scrap traditional events.

The charity, which has three sites including one in Salford, only receives a third of its funding from the NHS so has to rely on donations for the rest.

Chief executive Eamonn O’Neal said: “It’s really difficult for charities like ours at the moment.

“We’ve had to cancel or adapt all of our spring events, including our Manchester Midnight Walk, which is our biggest fundraiser.

“Cancelling events has a huge impact, as does the fact that lots of our corporate supports or individuals are also unable to run their own events that were planned in aid of the hospice.”

Manchester Midnight Walk 2019

The hospice, which has one of its three centres in Little Hulton, has adapted and innovated where it can and has changed the Manchester Midnight Walk into the Manchester Virtual Walk where the challenge is to walk either 5km in a day in June or 10km over a week in June – all while keeping to the government guidelines.

 

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Introducing the Manchester Virtual Walk, the new-look, new way to still take part in our iconic Manchester Midnight Walk – even during these difficult times. We’re adapting our bee-themed event to make it more flexible for you and your family to get involved, and we’d be buzzing if you joined us! 🎉⠀ ⠀ Throughout June, we’re asking you to complete either 5k in any day of June or 10k over any week in June. You can take part however you like, whether as part of your daily exercise or in your own home or garden, as long as you keep safe! This is your event, done your way.⠀ ⠀ It’d be nice to see you getting involved, so if you decide to support our patients by taking part, please send in any pictures or videos of yourself getting involved as we’d love to share them on our social media pages too! 📸⠀ ⠀ Tickets cost just £5, and we’ll send you a t-shirt upon sign-up and a medal upon completion, click the link in our bio to get your tickets or, email our Events Team on events@sah.org.uk or call 0161 498 3631.⠀ ⠀ Sign-up today ‘bee’ a part of our popular event.

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During the pandemic the charity has received a small share of money as promised by the Chancellor. However, there are around 200 hospices in the UK and although this money has come in very handy, the government help is spread very thinly.

Staff from the hospice on the wards in their PPE

Mr O’Neal said: “At the moment, we are relying on individuals, companies and others who are supporting our work, whether by donating items for our frontline doctors and nurses or making a donation on our website or by cheque.”

Since the outbreak of the virus, people have been finding lots of imaginative ways to raise money for the hospice.

This includes taking part in the charities’ celebrity-hosted zoom quiz and being sponsored to do their daily exercise.There is even someone who has climbed the height of Snowdon by going up their stairs more than 1300 times in a day.

The charity has also received help from local businesses, schools, and colleges who have been printing 3D PPE.

Mr O’Neal said: “We even had a lady who had used her sewing machine to make scrub bags for our clinical staff and she had thoughtfully added bags of sweets to the bottom of each one.

“We’re hugely grateful to everyone who has helped the hospice and would really appreciate the support from anyone reading this who might be able to help too. Anyone who would like to take on a challenge, make a donation, sign up to our hospice lottery or take part in the Manchester Virtual Walk really would be making a huge difference to the care we can provide to the patients.”

For more stories like this in the Salford area head to our website.

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