Marching 40 Miles For Foxy
A dedicated group of friends and family, led by Chris Henderson, undertook a remarkable 40 mile charity walk, in memory of their beloved friend Gavin Fox (Foxy) and the goal of surpassing the £40,000 fundraising mark for Nightingale House Hospice.
The fundraising journey began in 2021 as a heartfelt tribute to Gavin’s memory. The group completed a gruelling 90-mile walk from Leeds to Wrexham, raising funds for Nightingale House Hospice. This year, to mark Gavin’s 40th birthday, which was in January, the team is gearing up for another significant challenge. They have tasked themselves to walk from the Wrexham hospice to their Sports and Social Club in Ewloe.
The journey held meaning for the group as they honoured Gavin’s legacy and raised awareness of the services Nightingale offers.
Incredible Support
Reflecting on the motivation behind the initiative, Chris Henderson shared, “As a group, we wanted to continue to raise funds for the hospice in honour of Foxy. He would have turned 40 in January. We decided to get our walking boots back on and walk 40 miles. It is important for us as a group to not only raise money in Foxy’s name but also support the hospice. They were fantastic, and the care they provided during Foxy’s last few days and even after he sadly passed away. The support they offered the family was incredible.
“I have visited the hospice many times since our last event and have seen first-hand the care they offer. I realise how much they rely on fundraising. This helps motivate us to support them in whatever way we can.”
Chris added, “Foxy is massively missed by us all. We all wish we could have celebrated his 40th with him, but we will keep honouring his memory. We appreciate everyone’s support with our latest challenge.”
Nightingale House Supporter Engagement Fundraiser Chloe Deacon echoed their sentiments. She stated, “Foxy’s friends blew us away for taking on this amazing challenge. Everyone at the hospice is overwhelmed by the generosity and support – thank you.”
The group encourages supporters to join them in their mission to surpass the £40,000 fundraising milestone through their Just Giving page.
For more information, please get in touch with rachelle.mclachlan@nightingalehouse.co.uk.
High Sheriff of Clwyd Recognised Nightingale Hospice Volunteers
In one of her last appointments as High Sheriff of Clwyd, Kate Hill-Trevor surprised the volunteers at Nightingale House Hospice with an award recognising their valuable contributions to the community.
During her visit to Wrexham Hospice, Kate learned about the crucial role played by volunteers in Nightingale House’s provision of invaluable services and support to people in the community. A total of 437 volunteers give up their time to help in various roles, including clinical, café, retail, and events. These volunteers are crucial in ensuring that Nightingale House can provide high-quality care to those in need.
Explaining why she chose to present the award to the hospice volunteers, Kate said, “During my year as High Sheriff, I have been privileged to meet many of our local unsung heroes who work or volunteer in the service of others. It is very clear that the millions of people who give their time and skills to charities and community projects are an essential part of the world today.
“It was a pleasure to present a High Sheriff certificate to some of Nightingale House Hospice’s team of over 400 volunteers. Without whom the hospice clearly couldn’t function, and to add my thanks to everyone involved at the hospice for providing our community with this amazing facility.”
Help Make a Difference
Kate Hill-Trevor concluded her shrieval year in April. Describing the importance of volunteers to the third sector, Kate continued, “One of my goals this year has been to try to inspire more people to give volunteering a go. There really are voluntary opportunities out there for everyone. The hospice is just one example of this, with so many different roles, both within the hospice, gift shop and café and externally raising the vital funds needed to allow the hospice to function each year. If you are thinking of volunteering, take a look at their website and see how you could help make a difference”
Describing her gratitude for the award on behalf of the 437 volunteers she manages, Jo Kearns, Volunteer Manager at Nightingale House Hospice, commented, “Volunteers help in all areas of the hospice. From patient-facing to customer-facing in our shops and cafes to gardening and also raising vital funds at hospice events. Volunteers give freely of their time and skills. Without their support, the hospice wouldn’t be able to maintain the patient and family services needed by the community.
It would be an impossible task to single out one volunteer as the workforce within the hospice is like a finely tuned machine. Everybody plays a vital role in keeping day-to-day operations ticking along. This award means so much and is so important to our volunteers. It recognises their dedication and the contribution they make to the hospice. I would say to anyone who may be thinking about volunteering, don’t hesitate. A warm welcome is guaranteed to anyone who wishes to join our team!”
For more information, please get in touch with rachelle.mclachlan@nightingalehouse.co.uk.
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