Due to heavy snow fall in central Oxford, Helen & Douglas House had to cancel the 11th Santas on the Run. This is the first time they have had to cancel this event which is a real blow to the charity given it is their biggest fundraiser of the year. So they need your help to make donations, send in sponsorship money and organise a festive fundraising event.
Hannah Barrett, Events Manager from Helen & Douglas House said “We are very sad about having to cancel this great event which we know everyone was really looking forward to and raises vital funds for the charity. It is our biggest fundraiser of the year so we still need everyone to send in their sponsorship and donations because local terminally ill children and young adults still need your support. We texted and emailed all the participants, suppliers and staff early on Sunday morning to let them know not to come to the event and posted messages on social media. Only 3 out of 1809 participants did not get the message and made their way to the event, so we are pleased that our event management procedures worked. People on social media have been very supportive and are planning to send in their sponsorship but inevitably we will raise less money than we normally would do.”
Hannah Barrett said “Even though the event was cancelled we have still incurred significant costs. In fact many of our Santas have chosen to run or walk the distance another day, or have taken on other festive activities to raise money for us which will help fill the gap in money raised. We are sorry to have disappointed participants and hope people will continue to support Helen & Douglas House by organising their own festive fundraisers or attending other events in 2018.”
Lynn Lewis, Mum of James who died at in 2014 at Douglas House, was going to give a speech at the Santas on the Run event. Money raised from Santas on the Run would help families like hers. It was James’s favourite place and enjoyed coming to Helen & Douglas House for 15 years for respite care.
Lynn said “We knew whenever we left him there he was safe, well cared for and loved. It is a place full over love, happiness and care beyond measure. They have laughed and cried with us and supported us through everything. When we lost James he was at his favourite place, Douglas House, where he was cared for to the end surrounded with love. These wonderful people are still supporting us now. I appeal to participants to still send in their sponsorship, donate money and fundraise for them because the hospice really needs the money to help support families like ours.”
Helen & Douglas House continue to need your support as they have to raise over £5m per year to care for local terminally ill children and young adults. They are appealing to people who signed up to Santas on the Run to continue to fundraise and send in their sponsorship and donations. However they will probably still not raise as much money as planned.
Want to help? Make a donation, raise money for Helen & Douglas House this Christmas or download their Festive Fundraising Pack which contains some great fundraising ideas.
Crazy Christmas challenges including Tinsel crimbo limbo, Bauble and spoon race, Decorate a human Christmas tree, Ready steady wrap.
You can also order a Christmas cracker donation tube which can hold up to 34 £1 coins. You can pass one round to friends and family at Christmas events and get everyone to donate a £1. Email fundraising@helenanddouglas.org.uk or call 01865 799150.
Here are some ways your money could help at Christmas:
• £10 could help pay for a Christmas meal at the hospice.
• £30 could help pay for bereavement counselling over the Christmas period
• £50 could help pay for an outreach nurse to visit a child at home over Christmas.
• £100 could help pay for one of our doctors to visit a patient over Christmas.
• £300 could help pay for a nurse at the hospice over Christmas.
Becca Roberts, Annie Pickering and Owen Smith made the most of their Santa suits and went out in the snow on Sunday. Becca said “We were really disappointed that Santas on the Run had to be cancelled because of the snow but we made the most of our outfits and ran around Oxford in the snow all day! We will of course still be donating our sponsorship money.”
Kayleigh Livingstone and her daughter Brodie, 14 months old, made a Helen & Douglas House snowman in their garden in Middle Barton near Chipping Norton to show their support for the charity.
If you had fun in your Santa suit yesterday, share your pictures on social media using #HDHSantas – we’d love to see them.
Helen & Douglas House would like to thank their amazing sponsors – The Oxford Paper, Hawkwell House; Stagecoach, Benito’s Hat and JackFM.