Some of the recent events held for the Hospice
T@3
On the 6th of June the hospice held its most recent T@3 with 31 tea parties held in support of the charity.
Each group stopped at 3.00 p.m. to all have a refreshing cup of tea and to make a donation towards the running costs of the hospice.
The credit for the most original location must go to the group that held their tea party many feet in the air by arranging to take tea on top of a climbing wall!
So far the event has raised over £2000 with more to come as some groups have not yet given their donations in.
A big thank you to all those people who remembered the hospice, joined in our popular T@3 and for the very generous donations.
Sail the Wight
Our thanks go to Philip Sturdevent who donated a prize of a professional photo portrait, which help us with raising £3000 from the event.
Philip's website can be found at www.irisphoto.co.uk
Thanks to all the Rotary Clubs
The Rotarians help at many of the major Hospice events which have helped to raise over £400,000 in the last two years alone. They organize traffic and walker marshalling, administration, BBQ's, and contribute significantly to their organisation - all with a good sense of humour.
Our grateful thanks to you all.
They are always open to new members, look in the Links page for their web addresses.
Parchute Jump at Salisbury 2nd August 2008
It was 4.45 am as we all assembled at the Hospice awaiting our Sothern Vectis coach to take 31 jumpers and many spectators to Salisbury to do a tandem parachute jump for the Hospice. Bill Clark our friendly driver had given up his day free of charge and Southern Vectis kindly provided the coach. Despite the time we were all in high spirits although the jumpers rather nervous, we were greeted at East Cowes ferry terminal by Maureen one of the Hospice fundraising volunteers who had got up at the crack of dawn to wish us luck, she must be mad, I thought, then I looked at the 31 jumpers!!
We arrived at Salisbury in the rain at 8am went through the military procedures to get everyone in the military airfield. I was told by the little soldier that I was responsible for the 48 people on the coach and they would get attacked by the 8 military police dogs if they strayed, charming I thought we were all adults and we were representing the Hospice.
We all got signed in then sat in the cosy barracks for tea and breakfast for those who could face to eating. A few people made there own way there, we greeted them all and I gave them all a large sunflower, the boys were not impressed!
We happily went off to our briefing on how to jump how to land how to lift your legs etc etc, easy. Then came the worse bit I was called by Sarah who had decided as I had a clip board and looked reasonably efficient she would tell me the bad news to pass on to the by now terrified jumpers. No jumping as visibility is bad “We have to be able to see those hills over there and not have a wind speed over 25mph”, that was fine there was no wind but on second look no hills.
We spent 5 hours looking at that sky drinking tea, but metcheck and my praying was right, we began to see the hill, the rain stopped and a few clouds appeared rather than dull grey. The names starting appearing on the board we were ready to go. Lisa from the office first with Dan Jones, manager of Tesco, who looked the part, 20 minutes later with camera man in tow, 2 happy jumpers to pass on their views to those left terrified by now.
Well the afternoon progressed well the sun shone people were happy until 3.30 when our driver Bill tells us we have to leave by 5pm as he was only allowed to drive for 15 hours, well rules is rules. We still had 15 to jump, how could I tell those petrified people we had to go. 'No worries' said Sarah 'lets swap a few people around, coach people jump next, those with transport last we jump till 9pm tonight,' she assured me. Then something terrible happened the wind speed went up to 25 mph, no jumping.
Well the IOW spirit kicked in, I said a few more prayers and then had an idea. I had 6 coach people to jump, how did they feel about staying if I arranged a lift, they wanted to jump now not go home or they would never come back., so thanks to Barrie Duff and Wendy Holleyman’s family who rallied round and agreed, as they had transport, they would squeeze people into their vehicles and I arranged to pick them up when they got back to the Island. Sarah was well impressed on how we all supported one another, nowhere else have they had this happen. Well we are from the Isle of Wight and we were doing it for a good cause, the Island's Hospice.
We arrived at the Hospice at 8.30pm vey tired but very happy we had achieved our aim of 31 people jumping even if it meant some of the supporters didn’t get to see their loved ones jump. On a personal note I would like to thank all those who jumped, supported and helped me through that day. They all jumped for different reasons we had two Hospice nurses, Maggie and Julia, two Hospice staff lots had lost loved ones. But the bravest of all was Kylie McDermott who’s dear Dad Paul had only died very recently at the Hospice, she jumped and was supported by her family throughout the day, Dad would have been very proud of her.
We are hoping to raise £5,000 from this event once all the sponsorship comes in, this will go towards our patient care. We are planning to do another jump in June next year and Bill Clark our Southern Vectis driver has agreed to drive for us. If you would like to jump please contact me Karen Eeles at Hospice Fundraising 528989.
