News

Newsletter

Welcome to our latest edition of the Francis House newsletter. Please click here to download.

Charity Hair Cuts

Have your haircut between 25th November and 2nd December and 100% will be donated to Francis House. Men £15 ~ Women £20. Please call Carl Gambrell on 07595 474 826 or go to www.carlgambrell.com

Francis House Calendar 2012

If you would like to help to sell these calendars or simply purchase one (some!) please contact Kate Puc on 0161 443 2200. Would make perfect stocking fillers at £3 each.

Kate’s Crusade – Trekker’s United all the way to Machu Picchu

I’m back, it was tough, exhausting, exhilarating and it was a challenge!

I have been very fortunate to have been able to join the Manchester United Foundation on this trek to Machu Picchu and to be able to raise money for Francis House Children’s Hospice. When you hear what I have been through I hope that those who haven’t sponsored ‘Kate’s Crusade’ will do so now by either JustGiving www.justgiving.com/KatesCrusade and donate what you can or please send a cheque made payable to Francis House Children’s Hospice c/o Kate’s Crusade, Fundraising Office, 390 Parrswood Road, Didsbury, M20 5NA.

Thank you to everyone so far who has supported me and for your generosity and kind wishes – it’s greatly appreciated.

So on to my story…
After 4 flights and 39 hours in transit we arrived as Cusco in Peru with 3,350m to acclimatise! Finding out that just by walking up one flight of stairs you became out of breath – what was to lie in store for the intrepid trekkers on this charity challenge! No rest, that’s for sure. Up at 5am, tent covered in frost and temperatures at night as low as minus 10°C. Trekking commenced at 6am, slowly taking it step by step into the heart of the Andean mountains. The air was thin and breathing was difficult, having to stop when you could breathe no more just to catch your breath, taking a well deserved drink as you must drink as you become very dehydrated in high altitude and with the sun starting to beat down from around 9am – sunburn was also an issue. Most us had some varying degree of altitude sickness – from strong headaches, nausea, dizziness, upset stomach’s, one of our fellow trekkers also got water on his lungs (Pulmonary Edema!), another fractured his hand and there were some sore legs, bad knees and groin strains. The doctor was kept busy! But as a group that bonded immediately we stood by everyone through thick and thin – when it was their time for feeling out of sorts we all helped one another – we were a team, united together in a challenge that was more than extreme.

The trek was also an emotional roller coaster for all of us, not only by the altitude, but by meeting the Andean children who lived in these mountains far away from civilisation, living in poverty, a diet of potatoes and not knowing how old they were and when they were born, but still wore their brightly coloured clothes with pride, with their ruddy complexions and dirty feet they laughed and played and sang songs to us and we reciprocated too. We gave some gifts to some of the school children who had walked miles to see us and who held out their ponchos to collect them in. With their dark eyes focused on you and a soft ‘gracias’ by each child. I cried for the next part of the trek, trying to gasp breaths in amongst my tears. This brought a sense of reality back into our lives, turning our thoughts to our own families and children back home.

We all made it to the highest point (4,540m) by foot and some not so well by horseback – we all hugged one another, exhausted and elated – we’d done it. Another teary moment!

After five days without a shower, only a hole for a toilet and bitterly cold temperatures at night it was with a sense of relief to reach Machu Picchu for a stay in a hotel and a welcome hot shower!

The next day was the day of visiting the Lost City of the Inca’s, now one of the Seven Wonders of the World – the pinnacle of the trek and another 3,000 steps! We climbed up high into the clouds and then almost like magic the infamous picture of the Gregarious Mountains and the Lost City emerged from the shrouding mist.

I had done it! I had trekked to Machu Picchu through hazardous conditions, a Herculean task but I had achieved my goal. Please help me now to achieve my goal of raising £10,000 or more for our children and families at Francis House Children’s Hospice. Please support our new exciting campaign ‘The Next Piece in the Jigsaw’ – helping us to extend our facilities with a new seven bedroom hospice.

Thank you
Kate

Kate's Crusade

Francis House is about to embark on a new and exciting campaign commencing in January 2012 ‘The Next Piece of the Jigsaw’ to expand the hospice and build seven more bedrooms and facilities with state of the art equipment to care for our existing and even more children with a short life expectancy and families that are so in need of our 24 hour support and to receive our vital respite care we offer to them.

At the moment the children and their families are only receiving an average 12 nights respite care and ideally we would like to be able to offer 22 – 24 nights, with this ‘New Build’ we will be able to do so. Also due to medical advances many of the children that we care for are living much longer, many into their twenties but still require respite and our caring services. At Francis House we do not turn anyone away who needs or relies on us. With the ‘New Build’ we can offer these services. The ‘New Build’ will cost us 3.5million.

This makes my job as the Fundraising Officer even more difficult as we already need to bring in 2.5 million a year to keep the doors at Francis House open. With this ‘New Build’ the added demand to our current costs will be to raise 4.5million – a Herculean task ahead. If you can, please stay with us for the sake of all these children, teenagers and our young adults and join us as we add the next piece to our jigsaw in this exciting time. With this increased demand for funding I have taken it upon myself to join the Manchester United Foundation, Charity Partner with Francis House and to Trek the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu for 10 days in October walking 20 to 25 miles a day over rough terrain.

Please help me by donating on www.justgiving.com/katescrusade and donate what you can, every penny is important, every penny counts, every penny is vital to keep the doors of Francis House open to everyone who needs us.

Please forward this information to as many people that you can and help me spread the word.
Alternatively you could send a cheque made payable to Francis House to Kate’s Crusade, Francis House Fundraising Office, 390 Parrswood Road, Didsbury. M20 5NA.

I thank you in advance for your support.

Kate Puc

Christmas Cards 2011

A Christmas Card order form is available to download from the website. Please click on the 'Online Shop' link in the navigation.

Memory Lights 2011

An order form is available to download from the website. Please go to 'Memory Lights'  link in the navigation under 'Donate'.

Tatton Park 2011

Please click here to view the winning raffle tickets.

Stars Come Out Locally for Francis House

A big charity event scheduled for the autumn at the Oldham Coliseum Theatre was publicly launched recently. The show entitled 'Stars Come Out for Francis House' is the fourth such show to be organised at the theatre. This years version will feature the well known comedy double act The Krankies, popular comedian Jimmy Cricket and 60's sensations the Swinging Blue Jeans. Because all previous events under this banner have been a sell out, it has been decided that this autumn's charity Gala will have an additional show. This means the event will be schedule for two nights. Already one performance is already sold out. The public launch is a reminder that tickets are going fast and anyone interested in supporting the event should act swiftly. CEO of Francis House, Revd David Ireland said, 'this event is always a fabulous evening's entertainment, but with the added bonus that all proceeds go to a worthy cause. At Francis House we recently launched a high profile campaign to raise funds to expand and develop the services provided as the numbers of children and young people needing our support continues to grow. This event is always a great effort and the more of a success we can make it, the more we can raise to assist the great work that goes on at Francis House'. Comedian Jimmy Cricket added, 'the atmostphere at the Coliseum Theatre is second to none and I am really thrilled to be taking part in this event. The Francis House Children's Hospice is a wonderful place where a lot of support and care is provided. I think for the people of Oldham the show's line up is a real treat. It will be a very special show as it is not often that you find the Krankies, myself and the Swinging Blue Jeans in town and all on the same bill!'.

Iwan Thomas dons his running shoes for the K-Swiss City of Manchester 10k

Olympic Athlete and TV personality Iwan Thomas MBE was given his starting orders as he attended the official launch of the K-Swiss City of Manchester 10k at the Regional Athletics Arena, SportsCity.

The former European and Commonwealth Games Champion will be setting the runners off on their 10k challenge and starting the race on 3rd July in the number ONE bib.

Commenting Iwan said: “I’m looking forward to taking part in this race, I’ve never run the K-Swiss City of Manchester 10k before so I’m very keen to see what the route is like. I have the Virgin London Marathon in a few days but my legs should just about have recovered in time for Manchester. It's a great city and I’m looking forward to seeing everyone getting involved.”

Each year runners take part in the race to raise thousands of pounds for good causes. This year they will be helping to raise money for Cancer Research UK, The Lord Mayor of Manchester’s Charity Appeal Trust, Francis House Children’s Hospice, Cystic Fibrosis and Anthony Nolan.

The race, which takes place on Sunday 3rd July at 9.30am, starts and finishes at the Regional Athletics track, going around the outside of the City of Manchester stadium, the home of Manchester City FC and the local area.

Race Director Graham Jackson said: “Every year we get thousands of people signing up for this race and when it comes to raising money for charity the people of Manchester are amongst the best. People sign up for a number of different reasons whether it’s to raise money for a charity close to their heart or as a personal goal. We’re looking forward to seeing who gets involved this year.”

K-Swiss City of Manchester 10k is a race for all people of every standard and ALL are welcome.

ENTRY FEE FOR THE RACE IS £18 (£16 FOR CLUB RUNNERS) (inc. chip timing)

To find out more on how to enter the K-Swiss City of Manchester 10k visit:
www.sportstoursinternational.co.uk
Tel: 0161 703 5806 or email graham@sportstoursinternational.co.uk

Have a Spring Clean to Keep It Green...

Francis House have teamed up with Bag It Up to bring you a new challenge to help raise funds for Francis House. We are asking schools to encourage their pupils to have a clear out and bring in unwanted clothes, shoes and household textiles that they no longer need.

The more collected, the more money raised for Francis House.

For more on this fundraising partnership call or visit: HELPLINE 01422 418618 www.bagitup.org.uk

Diana Award for Kirsty Howard

Kirsty Howard has been awarded the prestigious Diana Award for being an inspirational role model after raising £5m for Francis House Children's Hospice.

Salford opera star Russell Watson, made a surprise visit to her school to deliver the accolade. Russell stunned Kirsty, 15, when he made a secret visit to see her at school.

Kirsty was born with her heart back to front – a condition so rare there was not even a name for it.

At the age of four, her parents were told she had just six weeks to live. Incredibly, that prognosis remains the same today. But she continues to defy all the medical odds and has picked up a host of celebrity supporters along the way – everyone from David Beckham to Prime Ministers!

Reddish North End Joins the Football Elite

Reddish North End U14's are following the example of Aston Villa and Barcelona in supporting a children's charity on their football shirts. Please click here to read the full story.

Park Lane School Fundraising Event

Please click here to read a lovely letter complete with photographs telling us of their recent fundraising event in aid of Francis House.

Hope and Joy alongside Pain

Monsignor Tom Mulheran has been chaplain of Francis House since he helped establish the hospice 20 years ago. Please click here to read Father Tom's interview by Paul Taylor of the South Manchester Reporter on Thursday 1st July 2010.

Boy Who Stole All Our Hearts

Most people enjoy celebrating their birthday but it is often something we take for granted. For Buxton youngster Josh Leech, however, his tenth birthday next week is a very special day. For it is a day Josh's family never thought they would see. Please click here to read the full story written by Louise Bellicoso courtesy of the Buxton Advertiser 17th June 2010.

From Didsbury to South Africa with love...

Unless you find a deserted island over the next month you will not escape the World Cup. So why not embrace the 'beautiful game' to the benefit of the children and families of Francis House.

Children from four Didsbury primary schools have recorded and released a single - a World Cup song - and any money raised through the project will go to the hospice.

Please click onto this website and all will be revealed.
www.everycolour.co.uk

Junior Manchester Runner for Francis House

Today we received a lovely letter from Emily Turner one of our Junior Manchester runners who raised £50 for Francis House. Well done Emily! Click here to read Emily's letter

Please refer to the Events List for 2011 for forthcoming fundraising events.