Gymophobics Southport Team, winning “Most Improved Gym of the Year” in January 2020. From left to right are: Rita Gill (Instructor), Anne Molyneux (Owner), Helena Knapton (Owner), Gill Dunne (Manager), Julie Stirk (Instructor)
By Queenscourt Hospice
Queenscourt undoubtedly experienced one of our most challenging years in 2020, as COVID-19 and the subsequent restrictions, put real pressure on our ability to fundraise.
While the pandemic put paid to many of our fundraising events in 2020 and looks set to impact on our events again in 2021, we relied heavily on our many dedicated supporters to help keep Queenscourt in service.
From individuals to businesses, community groups and sports clubs, we were inundated with people wanting to play their part by organising their own fundraising events.
One such group were the ladies at Gymophobics Southport who made Queenscourt their Charity of the Year for 2020 and went on to raise a grand total of £3,109.75, plus Gift Aid.
Their fundraising started in March with an open week, which included a variety of events such as wine tasting, cookery demonstrations, a tombola and table sales.
This was followed in May by their own take on our Star Trekk walk which saw members clock up the equivalent of 10K each while in lockdown, either from their homes or in the great outdoors.
Their biggest fundraiser, though came towards the end of the year when a planned virtual cycle ride from John O’Groats to Land’s End morphed into a virtual tour of Europe when lockdown struck again.
The fundraiser, which was the idea of the gym’s manager Gill Dunne who has had first-hand experience of services offered by Queenscourt as her husband Terry is battling cancer. Anne Molyneux, the gym’s co-owner, said: “We are absolutely thrilled with the amount we raised last year. Our members are just so generous and so positive.
“We are a real community here and wanted to pull together to support each other and to support Queenscourt. There are very few people who don’t have a connection to Queenscourt – we are very lucky to have it.”
Other fundraisers have included Andrew Johnson and Michael Jessop, who completed their own virtual marathon, raising £1,228.83 including Gift Aid; and Emma Anderson who raised £915 through her virtual John O’Groats to Land’s End run.
If these stories have given you inspiration, perhaps you would like to take on the The Virgin Money London Marathon challenge which is due to take place on October 3 and we have ONE place remaining to get you that golden ticket.
We also have ONE final place available to run for Queenscourt in the 40th Great North Run which is scheduled for September 12. Or what about LEJOG UK Virtual Challenge which will take you on a road trip from Land’s End to John O’Groats.
Each time you complete a distance-based exercise such as running, walking, cycling, etc you advance along with the map of the length of the UK in whatever timeframe you want to set.
Finally, for those who would like an easier introduction to exercise and fundraising there is our Beginner Challenge – Couch To 5K.
If you need any more information or advice in setting up your own fundraising initiative, please go to: www.queenscourt.org.uk/challenge, you can call our Fundraising Team on 01704 517420 or email fundraising@queenscourt.org.uk
Queenscourt Hospice is at Town Lane, Southport, Merseyside