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Dame Mary is set to launch special year

29/ 8/2008

THE next 12 months are a landmark in the history of Springhill Hospice, marking 25 years of fund-raising and the 20th anniversary of the hospice opening.

It was early in 1989 that the first patients were admitted to the newly-built facility in Broad Lane and festivities to mark the 20th anniversary will be launched next month and finish with a grand ball in 2009.

Ian Jenkins, Springhill Hospice fund-raising manager, said: "We will be holding all our usual events in the anniversary year, but look out for some special ones we are putting together, such as a sponsored parachute jump on Sunday 5 October, for which there are still a few places left.

"We also plan a ghost walk around Hollingworth Lake on halloween night and a vertical marathon up the stairs of a well-known multi-storey Rochdale landmark."

The first event is an anniversary dinner at the Town Hall on Saturday 27 September in the company of Dame Mary Peters, fresh from her duties with the GB Olympic Committee in Beijing.

Dame Mary, a patron of the hospice, is hosting the occasion in conjunction with Rochdale Masonic District Committee.

Mr Jenkins said: "We hope that many of our supporters, both new and old, will join us that night to launch this very special year."

Also appearing at the dinner are Martin Gold, master of ceremonies and Norman Price, another patron of Springhill.

Tickets are £35 and are available during office hours from the fund-raising office at the hospice, telephone 649920 (credit/debit card facilities are available).

Mr Jenkins added: "If anybody wishes to organise their own event to celebrate our 20th anniversary year, they should contact the fund-raising team and we will provide them with support as much as we possibly can."

LOG on to www.justgiving.com/rochdaleobserver to see all the donations made online to the appeal to date. The website also provides an opportunity to add a comment with your donation, such as a message of support for the appeal or hospice. If given in memory of a loved one, there is space to say so and provide their names. So far, close to 100 people have given online, with amounts ranging from £5 to £150.