CHARITY supporters who swung into action with an annual golfing tournament have helped raise hundreds of thousands of pounds for a local hospice
Sally and Glenn Pickersgill, of Heritage Healthcare, Darlington, presented a cheque for £15,450 to chief executive of St Teresa’s Hospice Jane Bradshaw, following the 16th annual Blackwell Golf Club Charity Day bringing the total raised from the tournament to a staggering £210,746.42.
Sally, who has spearheaded the funding drive for St Teresa’s by hosting the event each year, said: “A friend of our was diagnosed with cancer in 2001 and at the time there were no beds available at St Teresa’s.
“She had to travel to Stockton even though she only lived around the corner from the hospice. We decided then we had to do something to help and took the plunge to get involved.”
Joining forces with local businessmen, director of Landteam Adrian Speir, managing director of Sherwoods Alasdair MacConachie, palliative care specialist Dr Trevor Birnie and local GPs Dr Richard Harker and Dr Roger James, Sally and Glenn helped to launch launched an appeal to raise funds to support, furnish and staff an inpatient unit for St Teresa’s.
“Looking back we could never have envisaged raising so much money,” said Sally, who was made an honorary member of the Darlington and District Hospice Movement in 2007.
“In our first year we raised £8,000 and, thanks to local businesses taking part, sponsors and donations for raffles and auctions, it has grown hugely over the years.
“It makes me feel really proud that from humble beginnings we have been able to help so many people and now have such a fantastic service for inpatients and their families – we have come a long way.”
Sally, Glenn and their team at Heritage Healthcare have also supported the hospice through its annual ball, fielding a knockout challenge team and sponsored events including The Great North Run.
Chief executive of St Teresa’s Hospice Jane Bradshaw added: “Sally and Glen both came on board with us after having personal contact with the hospice and they have stayed with us ever since.
“They helped launch our very first appeal for an inpatient unit in our original Woodlands building and have raised funds for our family support and bereavement counselling services, as well as being behind us in helping fundraise for our new 10-bed inpatient unit, which we officially opened last year.
“They are great ambassadors for the hospice in raising awareness as well as money and will always be an important part of the St Teresa’s family.”