Hit Cancer for Six! campaign raises over £6,000 for local cancer patients
19 August 2016
The ‘Hit Cancer for Six!’ campaign at the 2016 Brewin Dolphin Cheltenham Cricket Festival has raised over £6,000 to provide extra care for local cancer patients through Cheltenham and Gloucester Hospitals Charity’s Focus Appeal.
With a huge number of people getting involved, from Alex Chalk MP to lifeguards at Sandford Park Lido, The Bishop of Gloucester The Right Revd Rachel Treweek to The Gloucestershire Morris Men, every corner of the local community really got behind the campaign.
Funds were raised through a memorable Ladies Day where guests enjoyed a day of sunshine, cricket, first class food and hospitality helping to raise funds through an exciting auction and raffle. Ladies Day guests also took part in the Festival’s first ‘Shimmython’ hosted by professional dancer Ann Blagden and a best dressed lady competition with the winner enjoying a weekend in a Mercedes Convertible, a dress from Bodega, and handbag from No 50.
A Yogathon saw over 100 people join together on the cricket ground for over three hours taking part in six different styles of yoga, including Strala, therapeutic flow, laughter, and Broga. Participants of all abilities took part while the sun set over the spectacular surrounds of the Festival site on Cheltenham College’s grounds.
Festival Sponsors Brewin Dolphin supported the campaign by matching text donations, with every £3 gift being doubled to raise further funds for the appeal. Donations are still being matched during August, and supporters can double their donation by texting: HITC46 £3 to: 70070
Gloucestershire County Cricket Club players Brandon Gilmour and Ian Cockbain personally visited the Gloucestershire Oncology Centre to find out how donations to the appeal will make a difference, and gave complimentary tickets for the Festival to cancer patients receiving treatment.
Cheltenham and Gloucester Hospitals Charity’s Focus Appeal provides specialist equipment and extra care over and above that provided by the NHS. Donations benefit patients receiving treatment for cancer in many ways, from providing portable devices for continuous pain relief to providing rise and recline chairs which give comfort to patients receiving chemotherapy.
Head of Fundraising at Cheltenham and Gloucester Hospitals Charity, Richard Smith said: “The support we have received for our ‘Hit Cancer for Six!’ appeal has been incredible, and our thanks go to Gloucestershire County Cricket Club, Brewin Dolphin and all those who got behind the appeal; we are very grateful indeed.
“It is amazing to have raised over £6,000 through the appeal, which will provide extra care for local cancer patients receiving treatment in the Gloucestershire Oncology Centre just 50 metres over the road from the Festival site. Our Oncology team are delighted with the news, and it is wonderful to make this connection between the Hospital and the Festival as two neighbouring organisations which both have a long and proud history in the local community.”
Click here to visit the Cheltenham and Gloucester Hospitals Charity webpage
