Christmas Appeal 2022 – giving the gift of care

Christmas Appeal 2022 – giving the gift of care

Saint Catherine’s has launched its Christmas appeal for 2022 – with lots of ways to help make a difference this festive season and help people like the Greenwood family, who kindly shared their story.

The hospice is offering supporters the following ways to help raise much-needed funds to ensure patients and families receive the care they need:

• Donate direct by clicking here and selecting ‘Christmas Appeal’ in the drop down
• Festive 5K event – Sunday 11 December, 10am, North Yorkshire Water Park, Wykeham.
• Carols by Candlelight – Wednesday 14 December, 6pm, St Mary’s Parish Church, Scarborough.
• Christmas cards and calendars – on sale now in their 12 charity shops and online at www.saintcatherines.org.uk/online-shop/
• Virtual gifts – buy the gift of care this Christmas www.saintcatherines.org.uk/virtual-gifts/
• Christmas appeal is on its way by post to regular supporters. You can order extra packs by emailing fundraising@saintcatherines.org.uk

The main fundraising event will be the Festive 5K, which is open to everyone and registration is free online at www.saintcatherines.org.uk/event/festive-5k

The course is a double circuit round the beautiful lake at North Yorkshire Water Park. The route is accessible to all and dogs are welcome on a lead. People are welcome to don their finest festive fancy dress or Christmas jumper and run, jog or walk the route.

Tracy Calcraft, fundraising and marketing director, said: “As the festive season approaches, we are inviting everyone to join us to have fun and help raise essential funds so we can continue to care for our patients and families 24/7, 365 days a year including Christmas Day.”

Supporter Justine Greenwood, of Seamer, who features in the hospice’s Christmas appeal, lost her husband James in March 2021 following a six-year battle with cancer.

James was just 38 years old when he passed away at the in-patient unit at Saint Catherine’s and Justine was 34.

Justine said: “The care was just amazing. The kids could come and go and his parents were able to see him, as well as his sisters. We were looked after as family. It made me feel like I could be the wife I wanted to be for James in his last few days.”

Every pound makes a difference this Christmas, for example:

• £20 could pay for a patient’s Christmas dinner, drinks and food for the day
• £50 could pay for a therapy session for a patient
• £75 could pay for bereavement counselling for a patient’s loved ones.

More details about the hospice’s Christmas programme will be posted on social media throughout November and December. If you would like more information, please email fundraising@saintcatherines.org.uk or call (01723) 378406.