S T C AT H E R I N E ’ S H O S P I C E
HELP RAISE FUNDS FOR HOSPICE husband Ken passed away under St Catherine’s care. In only two days, Wendy smashed her fundraising target, and donations continue to roll in. Wendy said, "I'm braving the shave on Saturday 20th March in memory of my lovely husband, Ken, who received end of life care at St Catherine’s. I wanted to mark five years since Ken passed away, and remember how lucky we were to have such a wonderful human Laura Sykes in pool.
being in our lives. I also want to give back to the hospice who treated me, my daughters and Ken’s
A
s Spring creeps closer, it’s the perfect time to
family with so much respect and kindness. Originally, I
take on a new challenge and what better
was hoping to raise £250 to split between the hospice
cause to take it on for than St Catherine’s
and Jigsaw South East. Both charities helped us through
Hospice – Your local hospice. Whether you’re a star baker, have a creative talent, want to test your knowledge with a virtual quiz, or have an upcoming celebration where you could ask
such a heart breaking time. I've already surpassed my target and my donation total is already over £500 – I’m thrilled." Tom Abbott, Head of Fundraising at St Catherine’s
family and friends to donate instead of sending you a
said, “We’re so grateful to people like Laura and Wendy
gift, your support will make a difference to terminally ill
for choosing to support our hospice and raise funds
people in your community when it matters most.
especially during lockdown. We’re only able to provide
Two people who are already doing their own
care and support to local people and their families
fundraising to support St Catherine’s are Laura Sykes
because of wonderful people who raise money in so
and Wendy Buckingham.
many amazing ways.
Laura is nearing the end of a fundraising challenge to
Coronavirus has been difficult, and we know that the
swim 21 miles, the distance from Dover and Calais, in 21
continuing lockdown is tough even though we all hope
days. She said, "I’m a swimmer. I always have been,
the end is now in sight. We’re so humbled that people
always will be! The water is my “happy” place. When I’m
are still thinking of St Catherine’s, and all the families we
in the water troubles seem to melt away. Over the last
care for.
year I’ve begun to explore open water swimming in
The support of people like you in our community has
lakes and in the sea. With lockdown restrictions in place
never been more vital. The pandemic has hit our
for a third time, to continue swimming I had to be
hospice hard and last year, we had a drop of around
creative, so I bought a heated garden pool in January.
£1.5 million in income. The easing of lockdown
I’ve been swimming the distance from Dover to Calais
restrictions over the coming months will help but we
attached to a tether, an elastic cord attached to the
are still reliant on your support and fundraising efforts
pool ladder. I thought it would be fun to do something
to make sure we can be there for people who need us
special involving two things very close and personal to
through the remainder of the pandemic and for years
my heart – swimming and St Catherine’s but I didn’t
to come.
expect the sub-zero, snowy conditions at the start of my challenge!” Wendy is busy fundraising ahead of a sponsored head shave in March to mark five years since her
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APRIL/MAY 2021
For some inspiration of different ways you can support St Catherine’s please visit: www.stch.org.uk/diy or to make a donation to help your local hospice please visit: www.stch.org.uk/donate or call 01293 447361. Please mention CRAWLEY PAGES South when responding to adverts
