Thank you to everyone who came to our ABBA Tribute concert in Nonsuch Park, Cheam. The event was a sell-out and a fantastic evening in beautiful surroundings. The Platinum ABBA band played with Nonsuch Mansion being the “backdrop”.

The concert was part of the 2010 St Raphael’s Summer Festival, which has raised £25,000 for the hospice and received support from over 2,500 people at one of more of the events held.

In aid of St Raphael’s Hospice

Sunday 16th May 2010

Help to raise funds for St Raphael’s by joining us on this sight seeing sponsored walk along the River Thames, and enjoy one of the most famous city sky lines in the world.

Amongst the many famous landmarks along the Thames, the route will pass St Paul’s Cathedral, The Tower of London, The Globe Theatre, Tower Bridge, Cleopatra’s Needle, Tate Modern and the Festival Hall.

TUESDAY 23rd FEBRUARY 2010

Walking barefoot over "red hot" embers burning at over 1200ºF, is the ultimate test of mind over matter.

Achieve the impossible and walk across fire – an amazing way to impress your friends, yourself and have some fun! It also gives you tools to tackle situations in everyday life.

We ask that you raise at least £150 in sponsorship for St Raphael’s Hospice – helping local people with terminal illness – the Mayor of Sutton’s Nominated Charity for 2009-10. Don’t worry, this is not as difficult as you may think – people will be more than willing to sponsor you to walk on fire.

The firewalk will be run by BLAZE a specialist events company who have organised firewalks for over 20 years and guided literally thousands of people from all walks of life across a 20 foot bed of hot embers and through their own personal barriers and limitations with a 100% safety record.

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AND HELP RAISE MONEY FOR ST RAPHAEL’S HOSPICE?

Thanks to our 16 brave supporters who completed a 10,000 foot skydive on 11th May in support of St Raphael's Hospice. Photo (left to right) Elliot Chilingirian, David Gazet, Jamie Wilson, Philippa Bevan, Lyn Spate, Carol Irvine, Jo Kent, Neil Fitzgerald, Arthur Green & Lacey Dalton.	and also from Turpin, Barker & Armstrong (left to right) Michael Wright, Andrew Thompson, Michelle Thompson, David Whiteman & David Payne

**ST RAPHAEL’S HOSPICE TANDEM SKYDIVE**

Was held on Sunday 13 September 2009

Our thanks to David Merrigan for the photos taken in Trafalgar Square

THE TRAFALGAR SQUARE 4th PLINTH On Friday 10 July from 1pm to 2pm, St Raphael’s Hospice supporter, Begona Castro, was a living work of art as she occupied the 4th Plinth in Trafalgar Square.   Every hour, 24 hours a day for 100 days, members of public are standing on the plinth as part of sculptor Antony Gurley’s ‘One and Other’ project. Over 14,000 people have applied for a place on the plinth so far..

Begona Castro was dressed as a sunflower, the symbol of the Hospice movement, and used her hour to highlight the importance of sun safety and skin cancer and the value of Hospice care – her younger brother Juan was diagnosed with skin cancer in June 2008 and died in October 2008, being cared for by St Raphael’s Hospice in his final days.

Skin cancer is the most common cancer among young adults (15-34) in the UK and more than 2,600 people die from skin cancer each year in the UK.

Begona said: “I wanted to use my time on the Plinth to remember my brother, honour his bravery during those 5 months and also raise money for St Raphael's Hospice where he was looked after during his last days”

Every year St Raphael’s Hospice supports over 925 patients in Sutton & Merton facing life-threatening illnesses. All services are provided free of charge including home visits, Hospice Home, day care, respite and bereavement counselling.

These services cost over £3.8 million every year, with just 26% from the Government meaning that over £2.8 million (74%) has to be raised from the community through fundraising and donations.

It costs St Raphael’s £440 an hour to run its service – approximately £7.50 a minute. Donations can be made at www.justgiving.com/begonaontheplinth

Begona’s progress can be followed at www.begonaontheplinth.blogspot.com and her time on the plinth will be broadcast at www.oneandother.co.uk

Annual River Wandle Sponsored Walk

Held on Sunday 17th May 2009

Merton Abbey Mills to Carshalton Water Tower

We anticipate that the walk will have raised in the region of
£3,000 - £4000 for the hospice

An Evening With ….. June Whitfield OBE

was held at St Raphael’s Hospice on 7th February 2009. Over 50 guests viewed a video compilation of June Whitfield’s work, spanning a period of more than 60 years in show business. June Whitfield then spoke about her life, the actors and actresses she has worked with, shared reminiscences and answered questions from the audience. The memories included working with a cast list of show business UK, including Tony Hancock, Frankie Howard, Roy Hudd, Dick Emery, Benny Hill, and Terry Scott. And in the Carry oin Films with Kenneth Williams, Sid James, Barbara Windsor, Joan Sims, Hattie Jaques and Kenneth Connor. Her most well known TV series included “Terry and June” and more recently “Absolutely Fabulous” with Joanna Lumley and Jennifer Saunders , “Last of the Summer Wine” and “Green Green Grass”. She has also appeared in “Old Dogs New Tricks” and “Midsomer Murders”.

AUCTION 4th October 2008

Thank you to all the supporter group members who helped and to everyone who donated items.

112 people attended and 56 lots were sold . Profit for the Hospice totalled £8,750.

2008 Midnight Memories Walk

At 11pm on Saturday 20th September, over 320 walkers of all ages set off on the 5 mile walk through North Cheam and Worcester Park to raise money for local charity, St Raphael's Hospice. The Mayor of Sutton, Cllr Brendan Hudson, was present, who officially started the walk. This year the sponsorship will support the annual cost of providing essential medication for the patients of St Raphael's.

They were supported by over 70 volunteers acting as registrars, marshalls, stewards and cooks, including 10 of volunteers from the AA - Automobile Association road team who also gave up their free time to support the event.

Fortified by goodie bags of water, a banana and a chocolate biscuit, generously donated by ASDA in Sutton, the walkers completed the circular walk to receive their special medal and a well earned bacon buttie.

Keith Witham , Director of Fundraising said " By the end of the evening a wonderful £32,000 had already been pledged, and with approx £10,000 more sponsorship to come online, so we are very hopeful that we will achieve our target of £50,000.

Marian Clarke Events Fundrasier said " We were thrilled to see so many people supporting this very special fund raising event. We know that many of the walkers had personal connections with St Raphael's and for some , it would be a very poignant time. While others , although they may not have had the personal connection , but now know of the wonderful work of St Raphael's.

This year's Walk has been kindly sponsored by Fidelity International. Joanne Joyce, Associate Director of Corporate Citizenship at Fidelity International said: "Fidelity International is delighted to be sponsoring St Raphael's Midnight Memories Walk for the first time and we are sure the event will be a great success. As a local company based in Lower Kingswood, we are committed to supporting the communities close to our offices, through cash and in kind support, and hope that by covering the costs of this event we will help the charity raise much needed funds for its services."

BRITISH 10K LONDON RUN

Approx £2,000 was raised for St Raphael's Hospice in the 8th British 10k which was held in central London on Sunday 6th July.

Our thanks to everyone who took part - Karen Bolton; Maria Charlton; Patrick Gartlan; Sally Gentle; Jon Graham; Tom Halls; Teresa Irvine; Rachel Lydon; Chris Marri and Alison Thomas.

Tribute Fund

Family and friends climb the “Three Peaks”. Sally Steele lost her husband, Keith, to Cancer in August 2005 when Keith died at St Raphael’s Hospice. In the same year, close family friend Hillie Ashby also lost her husband to cancer; he was cared for by St Peter’s and St James Hospice in Sussex. Between them they raised over £12,000 which supported the two hospices plus Cancer Research.

Sunflower Appeal 2008?

Each year, the hospice had a series of cash collections at local venues, supermarkets, DIY stores etc which raised vital funds, which was called the SUNFLOWER Appeal.  In return for donations, we offered a small clip on sunflower.

St Raphael's Family Fun Day

Summer Fair and Fun Day held on Sunday 29th June 2008.

This was held in the grounds of St Raphael's Hospice and St Anthony's Hospital in London Road, North Cheam Entry is £1 entry for adults, children free.

Included were a range of sideshows and children's entertainments including roundabouts , a bouncy castle, and a special hands on Art Workshop. There were performances from Ewell Castle School Big Band and the children from Athena performing Arts plus Uncle John's Magic Show and Punch & Judy, and car lovers were be able to explore the display of MG cars courtesy of the Epsom Area MG Owners Club.

Bargains were found at the Craft Stalls alongside the popular Bric- a- Brac and Gifts stalls, and great prizes were won through a Grand Raffle . All this and more was be there, and to add to the enjoyment there were delicious burgers from an all day BBQ, teas and cakes, and of course a glass of Pimms or Beer to celebrate summer.