Last Minute Appeal to Birmingham Women to Sign Up for Starlight Stroll
June 21, 2010
Organisers of Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice’s flagship fundraising event, Starlight Stroll, today put out a last minute appeal to Brum’s women to sign up for the summer evening sponsored walk, which takes place in less than three weeks time.
More than 300 keep supporters have already signed up for the stroll but if more fail to come forward, plans to develop services at the Hospice, which provides vital palliative care to people with life-limiting illnesses from Birmingham and Sandwell, could be delayed.
It was initially hoped that 800 women would set out from the University of Birmingham in Edgbaston at 10pm on Saturday, July 3 - between them raising £80,000. This target now looks unlikely to be met. The walk is 10 miles long and takes in Harborne, Moseley, Kings Heath and Selly Park.
Despite Birmingham St Mary’s receiving long-term fantastic support from communities across the City, the Hospice has not been immune to the effects of the recession, which has brought about a decline in legacies and other charitable income running into thousands of pounds.
Recruitment for two posts outlined in a service requirement review has been delayed due to the uncertainty created by the current economic climate. A successful Starlight Stroll would help to ensure that these plans went ahead.
The roles are: an additional Day Hospice nurse, who will help cancer patients remain at home with their loved ones; and an infection control nurse, who would work to prevent a repeat of the noro virus outbreak earlier this year that led to the Hospice Inpatient Unit closing for five days.
Birmingham St Mary’s Head of Fundraising Caroline Taylor said it was vital that more women signed up for Starlight Stroll.
“This is our biggest fundraising event of the year and a lot is depending on it being a success. The support we’ve had so far from those who have already signed up has been fantastic and their efforts will make a big impact.
“But if we want turn around what has been a difficult 12 months, we really need more people to register. So I would like to appeal to the good women of Birmingham and Sandwell to support your hospice this summer,” she said.
Caroline added that Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice had provided key palliative care services to local people for 30 years.
“Nearly everyone in the City will have known someone, a relative or a friend, who has been cared for by us and they will know what we did for them made a huge difference to their lives. I would like to appeal to those people to lend us their support at this time. This is your hospice,” she said.
The hunt is also on for men to support Starlight Stroll as volunteer marshals to help ensure the event runs smoothly and safely.
Since its launch in 1979, Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice has cared for tens of thousands of people with life-limiting illnesses, such as cancer, motor neurone disease and MS.
With around 52 percent of the Hospice’s budget reliant on public goodwill, community fundraising is crucial to ensuring its highly specialised services can continue to be offered to the people of Birmingham and Sandwell.
In addition to a 25-bed Inpatient Unit, Birmingham St Mary’s boasts a 20-place Day Hospice and provides community care to people who wish to stay in their own homes.
The Hospice also supports relatives with bereavement preparation, physiotherapy tuition and counselling in addition to many other services.
Annual running costs stand at £6.3 million, with around £1 million being raised in the Hospice’s shops and £2.7 million via community fundraising events. The remainder comes from the NHS.
Birmingham St Mary’s nurses, often referred to by patients and relatives as ‘angels’, are renowned for going that extra mile to ensure people with terminal illnesses enjoy the best possible quality of life.
To register for Starlight Stroll, or volunteer as a marshal please contact Charlotte Sudbury on 0121 4721191 or go to: www.bsmh.org.uk/starlightstroll to download a form.
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