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NEWS

Head Shave for Macmillan - added 24/04/13

This is Dan from The Grange School, we think he's amazing. We'll let you know why he did what he did in his own words.

"Hi, I am Daniel Tofangsazan and I shaved my hair for Macmillan Caring Locally. I had a friend whose father died of cancer of the throat and I have not seen him since as he had to move away with his mum. I always looked at charities and thought, "I can't donate enough money to make a difference", but due to my school I came into contact with Macmillan Caring Locally. I wanted to donate but I didn’t believe I could make a difference and never could if I didn’t have any help. I decided that as my hair was getting way out of control I should see how many people would sponsor me to shave my head bald. A couple of weeks later I had £800 to give and one chilly head!"

Thanks Dan, you did make a difference, we have used your money to buy a Spirometer, a vital piece of equipment for the Macmillan Unit.

Caption: The event took place at the new salon at the Grange School. We are very grateful to Emma from 'Chop' in Southbourne for shaving Dan's head.

Incy Wincy Spider - added 26/03/13

Macmillan Caring Locally volunteers provided the catering for Colehill Music and Drama’s (CoMaD) pantomime Incy Wincy Spider, on February 1st to 3rd, raising nearly £200. In addition, CoMaD gave a further grant to Macmillan from the panto profits to make the total up to £500.

Incy Wincy Spider was a new story written by its director, Rachel Leggett, but followed a familiar panto format – princess cursed by wicked witch Manata, to blackmail her mother the queen into handing over her kingdom. A collection of unlikely heroes – Dame Bunk-Up, Gramps, Daisy, Captain Jack Marrow & local yokels Curds and Whey then have to find the good witch Verity in order to break the curse and restore the princess. After many adventures Verity is found in Emerald Valley, Manata is defeated and everyone lives happily ever after.

CoMaD’s panto was well reviewed in the Stour and Avon Magazine on February 8th, which complimented many members of the cast and commented that “CoMaD are never afraid to tackle something different for their annual panto.” which “members of the cast had clearly worked hard to produce.”

Photo caption: Members of the cast (l to r) Lisa Willis (Verity), Alice Behling (Jack), KD Johnson (Dame), Sean Pestell, Laila Burgess (Incy Wincy), Meg Selby (Daisy), Hilary Motson (Manata) and Bob Tyler (Gramps).

Bournemouth University Bucket List - added 26/03/13

Second year Bournemouth University Events Management Students recently held a very successful event at the University to raise awareness of Macmillan Caring Locally. Their event was entitled Bournemouth University Bucket List, and the aim was to encourage students to talk openly about things that they want to achieve before they leave University; and to help them set targets and achieve them.

Bucket List Beer mats were placed around the Student Union asking students to make their list. These were collated and the most popular ambitions were made into a poster giveaway for event day. Amongst the most popular choices were ‘skydive’, ‘watch a sunset’ and ‘try a new extreme sport’. The Event Management Students talked to many students at their stand on the day, and were able to provide information on how to achieve some of the many Bucket List ideas. During this dialogue students were made aware of Macmillan Caring Locally and the care the organisation provides in the community.

Feedback from the event was very positive, and we would like to thank the BU Bucket List Team for their hard work. We would also like to thank the companies who sponsored the event so generously.

Beach Break Live
Salsa Explosion
LoLa Lo
BU Student Union
Experience Days
Frieda’s Tearoom
Indulge Yourself

Christchurch Food Festival 2013 - added 20/02/13

We are excited to report that Christchurch Food and Wine Festival has chosen Macmillan Caring Locally as one of the Charities to benefit from the event.

The 2013 Festival is set to take place from 10th to 19th May and will include an extensive calendar of events to suit all ages and tastes. To get a flavour of what is on offer, and to select the events that you would like to attend, please use the link above.

A Service of Remembrance and Thanksgiving - added 05/02/13

We are delighted to announce that La Nova Singers will be performing at our Service of Remembrance and Thanksgiving at the Priory Church, Christchurch, Dorset.

The service is on Sunday 28th April 2013 at 3.00 p.m., everyone is welcome.

You may by prior arrangement, have the name of someone recorded in our Book of Remembrance, which remains in the Priory. To find out more about the service and how you can record an entry in our Book of Remembrance CLICK HERE

Classic Cuts for Men - added 20/01/13

Congratulations to Classic Cuts for Men in Purewell who are celebrating their 10th year in business.

On the 22nd January they offered haircuts at £5 each all day, with the proceeds going to the Macmillan Unit. We would like to thank Lorraine and Kirsty for allowing us to benefit in this way.

The Beach Hut Cafe - added 31/12/12

The Beach Hut Cafe at Friars Cliff held their annual Christmas Day fundraiser again this year. Despite a wet start to the morning the sun eventually came out and hundreds of customers enjoyed mince pies and mulled wine with views of our beautiful coastline.

Jo and Ron who run the Beach Hut Cafe, donated all the mince pies and mulled wine, and every penny that went through the till was donated to the Macmillan Unit.

Thanks to their kindness and hard work, and thanks to the generosity of their customers, a total of over £2,600.00 was raised. If you haven't visited the Beach Hut Cafe, you are missing out. Find out more HERE.

The White Christmas Dip 2012 - added 31/12/12

Over 130 fundraisers took a plunge into the sea at Boscombe on Christmas Day in aid of the Macmillan Unit. The weather was cold and the rain was persistent, but it didn't dampen the enthusiasm of swimmers and spectators who turned out to take part in the 5th White Christmas Dip.

Sponsorship is still being collated but the organiser Tommy Baker hopes that the total will reach £5,000.00.

We are very grateful to Tommy, his family and friends for organising and running such a fun event, and we would like to thank everyone who gave up their Christmas morning and took part with such enthusiasm. To see more details and videos of the event CLICK HERE.

To go to the official White Christmas Dip web site CLICK HERE

Bournemouth Marathon 2013 - added 12/12/12

Stunning sea views, fresh crisp clean air and the very best of Bournemouth and Poole will be on show as the South Coast is home to a new international Marathon for the first time. The perfect environment has produced the natural environment for “running as it should be”.

The Festival weekend will include a Marathon, a Half Marathon, 10K, 5K and junior races.

If you would like to take part in this brand new event for Macmillan Caring Locally or if you would like further information please CLICK HERE.

Bournemouth Tourism Awards 2012 - added 29/11/12

We are delighted to announce that The Grove in Bournemouth, our holiday hotel for people with life threatening illnesses was a finalist and 'Highly Commended' in the Bournemouth Tourism Awards 2012. More than 300 representatives from across the town’s tourism and leisure industry gathered at a glittering Gala evening at the O2 Academy organised by Bournemouth Tourism.

Celtic Folk - added 24/11/12

Adrian Harman organised an evening of Celtic Music at the Allendale Centre Wimborne in memory of his wife Rose. The evening was a sell out which raised a total of £5,100.00 for the Macmillan Unit at Christchurch Hospital.

We would like to thank the musicians (Chris Sherburn, Denny Bartley, Aidan Burke, Brian Connolly and Aaron Jones) who flew in from all parts of the globe specially to perform at the event, without accepting a penny towards their expenses. Thanks also to the sound crew and the Allendale Centre for waiving their fees. Last but by no means least we would like to thank Adrian Harman and his volunteers for all their hard work and for allowing us to benefit from the substantial proceeds.

The Great Wall of China - added 25/10/12

Angela and Alan Turner have just completed the Great Wall of China for Macmillan. This is Angela's story: Approaching a milestone birthday two years ago and needing to get fitter I set myself a challenge of trekking the Great Wall of China, a trip which would take me completely out of my comfort zone and require a good amount of physical training. And so the training began, taking in swimming, walking, hill climbing and generally a lot more exercise. I also decided to try and raise some funds as people would sponsor me to take on such a challenge. As my brother-in-law had spent his last few weeks at the Macmillan Unit receiving their wonderful care I decided I would like to raise funds for Macmillan Caring Locally. At the last minute my husband decided he would like to join the challenge too so we shared the whole experience together.

The trip was organised by ‘Charity Challenge’ and took place at the beginning of October and lasted 8 days, with us trekking for 5 consecutive days. Well we survived the challenge; as predicted our knees are suffering a little from the thousands of steps but overall the training paid off – hurrah!

The trek was very varied; we passed through woodland and terraced farmland, following the contours of the hills and mountains in remote areas north of Beijing. The scenery was fabulous and gave a fascinating insight into a rich culture and history. We mainly followed old sections of the wall which were in a state of disrepair and quite difficult to walk on – in places only 2ft wide with sheer drops on both sides which required great concentration, no clumsy tripping, this meant we were the only people there all day giving a sense of solitude. Other days were spent trekking more restored sections with smooth flagstones and hundreds of steps. On these days we came across quite a few other people on day trips maybe just spending an hour or so there, some of whom were tottering along in their stiletto heels or flip flops – they weren’t hard core like us!

The challenge was physically demanding as walking on this terrain day after day takes its toll on your feet, legs and back; overall lots of steep inclines to towers and literally thousands of steps, some of which were 2ft high so lots of hauling oneself up. Overall we trekked approximately 50 miles over 5 days. It was also challenging in many other ways – no toilets on most parts of the wall so drinking lots of water to stay hydrated presented a slight inconvenience to females after a while….. ‘au naturel’ was the norm – watching out for prickles! Apart from the end of the trek when we luxuriated at a ‘Holiday Inn Express’ in Beijing we stayed at a variety of lodges experiencing local hospitality. These were in the middle of nowhere which had a range of sanitation and hygiene standards as well as limited facilities – the only guarantee given was hot water and clean sheets – we were happy with that us hard core trekkers! We were well fed – all meals were delicious.

On reflection we look back and feel pleased to have fulfilled all of the challenges that were presented to us, that we were sponsored to undergo, taking on one day at a time. We remember that those who need the facilities of the Macmillan Unit have far more challenges than we have ever experienced and thank all of those who sponsored us helping to raise some funds towards this little sanctuary for those in need. Having completed the challenge we are now in the process of collecting the sponsorship pledged beforehand and any donations folk are willing to give. The joint sum for our fundraising activities now currently stands at just above £4000 which is fantastic. We would like to thank Neal at Macmillan Caring Locally for his help and support of the venture.

Specsavers Poole - added 17/10/12

Our grateful thanks to Louise Swash, her colleagues at Specsavers in the Dolphin Centre Poole, and their generous customers for holding a coffee morning and raising an amazing £280.00 for the Macmillan Unit at Christchurch Hospital.

The 10th Sarah Green Golf Tournament - added 02/10/12

A group of golfers have celebrated the 10th anniversary of the Sarah Green Golf Tournament by raising a massive £6000 for Macmillan Caring Locally. Over the past 10 years, the event has raised a huge amount, in excess of £50,000 in honour of Sarah Green (nee Rogers) who sadly lost her battle with Cancer in 2003, aged just 31. The much needed funds help support the Macmillan Unit at Christchurch Hospital, which is a Specialist Palliative Care Unit for patients in South East Dorset and South West Hampshire.

The 10th Sarah Green Golf Tournament took place on Friday 31st August 2012 at Canford Magna Golf Course. The event offered a great day of golf in beautiful surroundings along the River Stour, with the opportunity to win the coveted Sarah Green Trophy amongst other prizes, including a prize for the best dressed team. Following the golf was a 4 course gala dinner and a programme of entertainment. The winning team were local lads, "The Fore Callers", from Christchurch.

Trust Secretary for Macmillan Caring Locally, Neal Williams, said: “We are delighted that the Sarah Green Golf Tournament has reached the £50,000 total in its 10th year. This achievement is down to the hard work and dedication of the Rogers family, the Organising Committee, the Volunteers; and the generosity of those taking part. The money raised each year has enabled us to complete some very important projects in the Macmillan Unit at Christchurch Hospital. These projects have improved the care we give to our Patients and the support we offer to their Families.” Event Organiser, Anthony Rogers, said: “The event has gone from strength to strength and this year we had an amazing entry of 25 teams. Players of all standards got involved including Ashley Colleff, the current World Junior Golf Champion. It's a great event to be involved in and I'm really proud of the amount we have raised in my sister's name for Macmillan Caring Locally. I'm very grateful for the support offered by local golf clubs and business and all the organising committee are already looking forward to next year's event."

Christchurch Junior School - added 30/08/12

Year 5 students at Christchurch Junior School undertook an apprentice-style project where they were each given £1.00 and asked to use it to generate funds which would be donated to a local Charity.

Lots of interesting and inspiring ideas were put into action and the final result was that a massive £779.00 was raised for the Macmillan Unit. We wanted to do something tangible and creative with the money that was raised, so we decided to use it to purchase all the bedding plants and shrubs for the Macmillan Unit garden this season

Our garden is enjoyed every day by our Patients, families and visitors; so we offer our sincere thanks to Year 5 for making the garden extra special this year.

JOGLE 2012 - added 20/08/12

Roger Standen (Cobham PLC) and Simon Tatman have just completed a cycle challenge from John o'Groats to Lands End in aid of the Macmillan Unit.

To read their fascinating blog and to find out the fun and games they got up to CLICK HERE.

Congratulations to Roger and Simon.

SUSAN HAUSBERGER - added 20/08/12

Susan Hausberger took on a mammoth cycle challenge by cycling solo from her home in Austria to the Macmillan Unit in Christchurch UK. This challenge raised a serious amount of money for our Charity, and we are all in awe of the stamina and fitness required to complete such a cycle ride.

Well Sue is off again! and this time she is cycling from Austria to Barcelona, which is an enormous feat. You can read her daily blog and give her some support HERE.

THE GROVE FEATURED IN THE DAILY TELEGRAPH - added 09/07/12

Cassandra Jardine, the Telegraph's award winning feature writer, enjoyed a short break at The Grove (our holiday hotel for people with life threatening illnesses). She planned to write a piece on the Grove but sadly passed away two weeks after her stay. One of her oldest friends Kate Percival, who accompanied her on the trip, agreed to finish the article. We would like to offer our sincere condolences to Cassandra Jardine's family and friends, and express our gratitude to Kate Percival for finishing the article. You can read the article by clicking here.

FOUR ROUNDS IN ONE DAY - added 04/07/12

For the third year in a row four golfers played four rounds of golf on four different courses in one day. What may sound like a walk in the park is actually a real endurance test lasting about 18 hours.

Simon White (Enhanced), Warren Munson (Inspire), James Samson (Samson Print) and David Hole (Norris & Fisher) started at 4-30 am on the 28th of June at Dudsbury, 9-30 am at Canford Magna, 2-30pm at Ferndown (Old Course) and 6-30pm at Ferndown (Presidents Course).

We are very grateful to Simon, Warren, James and David for doing this challenge to raise funds for the Macmillan Unit. To see a group shot of the guys taken part way through the day please go to our Macmillan Flickr page HERE

JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS - added 19/06/12

Jo and Mark Hirdle and the residents of High Trees Avenue in Queens Park Bournemouth celebrated the Queen's Jubilee in style.

They organised a street party, dressed up and marked the historic occasion in the traditional way.

During their celebrations the residents very kindly organised a raffle, with the proceeds going to the Macmillan Unit at Christchurch Hospital.

We are very grateful to the residents of High Trees Avenue for raising a total of £210.00. To see more photos of the event please go to our Macmillan Flickr page HERE

NIGHTRIDER - added 13/06/12

Maria and Will Standen took part in the London Nightrider in aid of Macmillan Caring Locally.

The Nightrider is a unique 100 km cycle ride past many of London's iconic landmarks at night. They joined 3,000 other fundraisers cycling in aid of 250 different Charities.

Maria and Will completed the Rajasthan Cycle challenge for us last year, and we are delighted that they have decided to support us again by taking part in the Nightrider.

If you would like to take part in Nightrider 2013 GO HERE

CYCLE CHALLENGE - added 06/06/12

David, Gervase, Simon and Jon took part in a cycle challenge through France in aid of the Macmillan Unit. The challenge started in Saint Malo in Brittany on the Thursday morning and finished down in the foothills of the Pyrenees at about 6 p.m. on the Saturday, 535 miles later.

In the photograph is David Townend (kitted out in their team uniform) presenting a cheque for £2,000.00 to Geraldine Staples of Macmillan Caring Locally, accompanied by our Nursing team at the Macmillan Unit.

We are very grateful to David, Gervase, Simon and Jon for taking part in this exciting challenge, and for raising such an impressive total for the Macmillan Unit.

If you are interested in doing a cycle challenge for Macmillan Caring Locally please call us on 01202 477628. We have a huge selection of challenges and treks that you can join.

Service of Remembrance & Thanksgiving - added 01/05/12

We would like to thank everyone who supported our Service of Remembrance and Thanksgiving at the Priory last Sunday. We are grateful to the Reverend Chris Mann and the Reverend Nick Adamson for officiating at the service.
Bournemouth Male Voice Choir performed a breathtakingly beautiful selection of works from Schubert and Mendelssohn, and we owe them our thanks for adding so much to our annual service.

DOORSTEP COLLECTIONS - added 24/04/12

It has been mentioned in the Press recently that some Communities in the UK are fed up with door-to-door Charity collectors. Some national Charities have come in for criticism for using door-to-door collectors. We would like to point out that Macmillan Caring Locally is a small, local Charity based in Christchurch Dorset. We do not have door-to-door collectors or street fundraisers asking the public to complete direct debit forms.

If you have any concerns over this matter please call us on 01202 477628.

London Marathon 2012 - added 23/04/12

All of our London Marathon runners completed the course yesterday despite a very hot start to the day followed by a cold and wet end to the day. Our sincere thanks go out to all of our team for doing such an amazing challenge and raising so much for our Charity.

You will find a selection of photographs on our Flickr page

If you would like to run in the 2013 London Marathon for Macmillan Caring Locally, please enter the London Marathon ballot online when it opens. If you are successful and receive a place, please contact us for a supporter pack.

If you are unsuccessful in the ballot, please contact us as we may have Golden Bond places available.

Glenigan skydive for Macmillan - added 22/03/12

Local company Glenigan provides the most up-to-date and detailed construction contract sales leads and market analysis. They report on every planned and current UK construction project, the companies and decision-makers involved. Glenigan have adopted Macmillan Caring Locally as Charity partners and have held a variety of Staff fundraising initiatives, the most recent of which raised £2,500.00 for the Macmillan Unit. In addition to fund raising, Glenigan colleagues are given time off to spend a day volunteering at the Macmillan Unit.

On 10th March Glenigan colleagues Emma Dukes and Jodie Cave bravely completed a skydive from 15,000 feet at Old Sarum, Salisbury. The jump lasted six minutes, with thirty seconds of free fall time. Congratulations to them both for completing an amazing challenge.

We would like to thank Mike Woolfrey, Managing Director for supporting this partnership, and for all Glenigan colleagues who have given up their time to volunteer, and have been so enthusiastic and generous in their fund raising.

Mike Brown named AVIVA Premiership rugby player of the month - added 15/03/12

The Harlequins’ full-back was chosen as the month’s stand out performer by a panel of distinguished rugby media – including writers, broadcasters and photographers. Brown spoke of the pride he felt for being named Aviva Premiership Player of the Month: "I am so happy to receive this award from Aviva. It's a great time to be involved with Harlequins. I couldn't have found my recent form without the constant help and support from my teammates and the Quins coaching staff, they have all had a massive influence on me over the past few months and I'd like to thank them all.

"Aviva have kindly donated £500 to the charity of my choice – and I’ve chosen Macmillan Caring Locally. The reason I have chosen this charity is because my Gran recently passed away. Before she passed on, she asked for people to donate to the charity, instead of buying flowers for her funeral, as it was a charity that she supported. So in memory of her, I would like to donate to Macmillan Caring Locally."

Louisa Cheetham, Head of Sponsorship at Premiership Rugby title sponsors Aviva added: “Mike has been knocking on the door of the England squad for some time now. His outstanding form for Harlequins this season has been rewarded with a place in the England elite player squad which is testament to the professionalism and determination of the player; a deserved winner of the Aviva Player of the Month award.

Stepping Stones Group will meet at The Grove - added 23/02/12

From 6th June 2012 our Stepping Stones group will be permanently changing its venue and will be meeting at our new hotel The Grove.

The Grove Hotel, 2 Grove Road, East Cliff, Bournemouth BH1 3AU

Parking is limited but places are often available at neighbouring hotels. Please see our reception staff on arrival for details.

Drumming 4 Life - added 23/02/12

Members of Linwood Youth Club in Winton recently held a Drumming Marathon in aid of The Youth Cancer Trust and Macmillan Caring Locally.

Joe Musker, who runs the Youth Club, was joined by several young drummers including Roscoe Oliver (pictured) who managed to keep the drumming going all day raising a total of more than £900.00 which was split between the two Charities. The money has already been put to very good use. It was used to purchase a laptop computer for Sally Taylor the new Welfare Benefits Adviser at the Macmillan Unit. Sally’s role is to offer specialist benefit and grant advice to Patients who are under the care of the Macmillan Unit.

Neal Williams, Trust Secretary of Macmillan Caring Locally said “Sally is a very important new addition to our Family Support Team. In the short time that she has been working for us she has already found substantial gains for the Patients that she has seen. Clearly she could not do this role without her new laptop and we are so grateful to Joe, Roscoe and fellow members of the Club for enabling us to make such a difference to our Patients”.

Carer's Day at The Grove - added 08/02/12

In February we held our annual Carer's Day. It took place at The Grove, our brand new holiday hotel for people with life threatening illnesses. Our annual Carer's Day is one of the ways in which we support the Carers of our Patients in our Community. The Carer's Day included two speakers talking on different aspects of caring. The ability to chat to a variety of professionals who were present, and an opportunity to chat to other carers. The Grove put on an excellent lunch, and in the afternoon our Carers were treated to some relaxation therapy which included a course of African drumming.

On the feedback forms 86% of those who attended said that the day was 'excellent' and the other 14% said the day was 'very good'. Thank you to Gill Kennedy of our Family Support Team who organised the day, our Family Support Team, our Speakers, our Professionals and the team at The Grove for making it such a success. If you are a Carer of one of our Patients and would like to know more about this annual event or our monthly Carer's meetings please call Gill Kennedy on 01202 705499.

Stewarts Gardenlands - added 08/02/12

Stewarts Gardenlands at Christchurch and at Holt adopted Macmillan Caring Locally as one of their Charity partners for 2011. We were particularly pleased to be chosen by Stewarts as the decision is made by the Staff.

Thanks to the generosity of the Staff and Customers who put donations in our collecting tins across the stores and in our buckets adjacent to the real reindeer at Christmas, a total of £3588.56 was raised.

We are very grateful to Martin Stewart, the Stewarts Gardenlands Staff and their very generous Customers. We would like to wish Stewarts every success in the future.

Did you know that Stewarts Gardenlands was the first retail store in the country to have a coffee shop?

The Beach Hut Cafe on Christmas Day - added 18/01/12

On Christmas Day Jo Smith, her family, colleagues and friends opened up The Beach Hut Cafe at Friars Cliff for a morning of mulled wine and mince pies. This is an event that Jo holds every year for us.

Hundreds of customers turned out on the day and every penny that went through the till was donated to the Macmillan Unit.

Over £2,600 was raised on Christmas morning, which is going to go towards the Macmillan Unit rebuilding fund. Over the years Jo has raised a considerable sum for the Macmillan Unit. We would like to thank her, her helpers and all her loyal customers who gave so generously.

If you have never been to the Beach Hut Cafe it is the perfect place for a coffee or a meal after a walk on the beach.

Parachute Jump! - added 05/01/12

On Saturday 10th March 2012 at Old Sarum Airfield Emma Dukes and Jodie Cave will be jumping out of an airplane at 15,000 feet.

Emma and Jodie work for Glenigan, a local business which has been really supportive of our Charity in fundraising and in allowing their Staff to do Volunteer days at the Macmillan Unit.

We would like to wish Emma and Jodie the best of luck, and to thank them for taking this brave challenge.

Go here to offer them some support.

The White Christmas Dip 2011 - added 28/12/11

Thanks to all those who braved the water on Christmas day for the annual White Christmas Dip.

A record turnout of swimmers and a record turnout of supporters and spectators made this the best one yet.

Thanks also to Tommy Baker for organising everything, and to The Echo for covering it on Christmas Day.

Go here to see the article in The Echo. Photograph copyright Sally Adams, The Echo.

Maria and Will's Rajasthan Tiger Challenge - added 28/12/11

Maria and Will Standen have just completed the Rajasthan Tiger bike ride Challenge in aid of Macmillan Caring Locally.

Their trek took them 480 kms through Rajasthan, the land of the kings. They were one of the first few mountain bikers to explore this region.

The challenge was made all the more difficult by potholed roads, and some that had been washed away by monsoons. The dust thrown up by the bus, truck and tractor drivers was also something to contend with. Maria said "The route we followed was specifically tailored to be a challenging one through some of the more remote, rural areas of what is a very diverse and culturally fascinating country with friendly people that made us feel very welcome. We nearly reached our fund-raising target of £1500 for Macmillan Caring Locally (only £18 short!). The generosity and support of everyone really did keep us going."

If you would like to help them beat their target Go here Thanks to them both!

Sally Taylor, Welfare Benefits Adviser - added 14/12/11

We are delighted to announce that we have appointed Sally Taylor as our new Welfare Benefits Adviser for the Macmillan Unit.

Sally will be based at the Macmillan Unit, but will travel out to see our Patients in their homes. She will be advising our Patients on any grants or benefits that they may be entitled to, and helping with any financial issues.

We are very pleased to be able to add this important service to our Family Support Team. Sally starts in post in January 2012 and can be contacted on sally@macmillanlocal.org or 01202 705291 (this number is temporary until she has a dedicated line).

Christmas card shop - added 23/11/11

Help us continue to support the Macmillan Unit at Christchurch Hospital and those under our care in the community by buying your Christmas cards through our new online shop (click on the image on the left to go to our shop).

Our card shop offers a large range of individual Christmas cards as well as box sets. With every purchase you can see exactly how much is donated to our Charity. If you are new to our card shop there is a 70% discount voucher that can be claimed.

With over 3,000 greeting card designs to choose from, there is a card for everyone.

Christchurch in Bloom competition 2011 - added 19/10/11

We are absolutely delighted that the Macmillan Unit Garden has just been awarded the GOLD prize in the Judges' special award category in the Christchurch in Bloom competition 2011.

Our Gardeners Nigel and Eric, along with our Gardening Volunteers John, 'Big Brian' and Elwyn do a marvellous job of creating a beautiful and peaceful haven for our Patients and their Visitors.

We would like to dedicate this award to 'Little Brian' who gave many hours of his time as a Volunteer to help in the garden, and sadly passed away earlier this year. He would have been chuffed to bits.

Grand Opening Charity Event - added 12/10/11

We are excited to announce the Grand opening of the new Scissors Salon in Christchurch.

To celebrate the opening Scissors are doing a very special offer of a complimentary cut and finish in return for a donation to Macmillan Caring Locally or The Red Ranger Fund.

The special offer is running from 17th to 30th November 2011, and as there are limited appointments available it would be advisable to book your appointment as soon as possible.

We wish Scissors every success with their new Salon.

If you would like to download this poster to distribute to friends CLICK HERE.

Mirrored Shower - added 05/10/11

Ian from Mirrored Shower recently performed the Gigantic Mirrorball Show at Champions Westbourne in front of a crowd of 200 people.

The Gigantic Mirrorball Show incorporated 14 musicians and vocalists on the stage, performing songs written by Ian C. Uren and Sonny James Lovell.

Tickets sales, donations on the night, a percentage of the sale of the band's CDs on the night, and pound matching by Liverpool Victoria raised a very impressive £1772.50.

Neal Williams Trust Secretary said "The show was amazing, it is so rare to see so many talented artists on the stage at once. It was a real treat. We are delighted with the total that was raised, and would like to thank Ian, Sonny and all the band for working so hard in preparation for the show. Thanks also to Neil King of Fatea for arranging pound matching through L.V."

It is hoped that the Gigantic Mirrorball Show will be an annual event. Please go to the Mirrored Shower web site to listen to their music or download some tracks.

Sarah Green Golf Tournament - added 05/10/11

Charity Golfers carded £8000 for Macmillan Caring Locally at Christchurch Hospital from the 9th Sarah Green Golf Tournament. Sarah who lived in Ferndown, died age 31 in 2003 after suffering from leukaemia.

24 teams took part in the annual 4 ball stableford competition held on 2nd September at Canford Magna Golf Course near Wimborne, including her father and three brothers.

1st place honours were carried off by The Ashes Menswear Team, who were amongst the runners up at last years event. The team from Bournemouth and Christchurch, Luke Dennison, Lee Parker, Fraser Hamilton and Robbie Scott. were the pick of the teams, with second place honours going to the ‘Oddball’s’ led by Simon Munro-Pruett. In third place were the ‘Nicorettes’ captained by Simon Drake.

Supported by many local companies and businesses the event has now raised more than £43,000 in total for the unit since it started in 2003. Much of the money was raised in the charity auction which followed, the highlights being a signed 1966 world cup football shirt signed by the 9 remaining players, and a stay at the luxury 5 star Langham Hotel in London. This increasingly popular event was the most successful so far and the money raised will enable the completion of a number of projects that will improve the care of patients at the Macmillan Unit.

Neal Williams, Trust Secretary of Macmillan Caring Locally said, “The Sarah Green Golf Tournament has raised a huge amount of money for us over the years. We are extremely grateful to the organising committee, the volunteers on the day and to all those who took part, and gave so generously.”

New Forest Marathon - added 19/09/11

We would like to wish all our runners in the New Forest Marathon on 25th September best of luck, and mention our two recent entries from Sainsburys at Christchurch, Elena Daobry & Andrew Thomas.

Rachel Allcock - added 30/08/11

We are very grateful to local department Store Beales who have set up a scheme where their employees can volunteer to help a Charity for a day.

In the photograph is Rachel Allcock, who works in the menswear department of Beales. Rachel is also a professional singer, and very kindly donated her time to sing to our Day Centre Patients.

Rachel entertained our Day Centre group with a variety of well known ballads and swing numbers by artists such as Norah Jones, Eva Cassidy and Dionne Warwick. One of her delighted audience said "She has a beautiful voice, we would love to hear her sing again".

If you would like to book Rachel for your event please contact us and we will pass on your enquiry.

The Venue Directory - added 17/08/11

Laura, Rob and Jonathan from the Venue Directory in Gervis Road Bournemouth website very kindly donated their time and expertise as professional film makers for event venues, to create a four minute video about The Grove, our new hotel for people with life threatening illnesses.

Trust Secretary Neal Williams said "We are a small, local Charity, so we are very proud that The Grove is a unique initiative in the UK. We do not have the resources to publicise The Grove to those people across the whole of the UK who deserve to know about it. This video will greatly help us achieve this goal, as it is easily emailed and very concisely explains exactly what The Grove is about. We are so grateful to The Venue Directory for helping us".

To see the video go HERE and click on the top video.

The Vear Big Jump - added 17/08/11

Natalie Le Mesurier, Nick Child & Jack Beswarick did an amazing challenge by completing a Sky Dive at Old Sarum Airfield Salisbury, in memory of Jack's Mum Susan Beswarick.

Monies are still coming in, but at last count the total raised is in excess of £2,000.00. We are really grateful to Natalie, Nick and Jack for being so brave and completing the dive.

If you would like to raise money for Macmillan Caring Locally, and would like to experience a sky dive, you can book through our challenge partner BY CLICKING HERE.

The Day Centre Summer Fayre - added 25/07/11

Thank you to everyone who donated items, all the Staff and Volunteers who helped out on the day, and to everyone who turned up, and helped us raise over £2,000.00 in just two hours!

The Pathfinder March - added 25/07/11

On the 25th June 2011 two colleagues from Honeywell Aerospace based at Bournemouth Airport undertook the Pathfinder March Challenge. They walked 46 miles cross country, starting at RAF Wyton near Cambridge and ending up back at the start. Emmerson and Elric both completed this trek in 16 hours, they started at 4am and finished at midnight. They raised a fantastic amount of £435.00 in memory of their friend Simon who was looked after at the Macmillan Unit. Thank you!

Rajasthan Tiger Challenge - added 13/07/11

Maria and William Standen are going to be doing the Rajasthan Tiger Challenge in December 2011 to raise funds for Macmillan Caring Locally. The expedition involves mountain biking for 480 kms through Rajasthan, the land of Kings. Their trek will take them to see Tigers in their natural habitat, and a visit to the Taj Mahal.

Maria, who works for JP Morgan Chase, has been involved in raising funds for The Grove (our hotel for cancer patients), and will shortly be leading a Community project with JP Morgan staff to landscape the gardens at The Grove.

If this challenge sounds like something that you would like to experience, have a look at the Rajasthan Challenge and a list of all our other UK and Worldwide Challenges BY CLICKING HERE.

Bournemouth Freemasons - added 06/07/11

Macmillan Caring Locally was invited to the annual celebration evening of Bournemouth Freemasons at the Freemason Hall, Knole Road, Bournemouth. At this evening all the local Lodges get together to give the money that they have raised all year, to a selection of local Charities.

This year local Lodges raised a total of £30,000, which was distributed to 40 local Charities.

In the photograph are representatives of eight lodges (including the Provincial Grand Master) who presented cheques to Neal Williams, Trust Secretary of Macmillan Caring Locally. Neal said “I am amazed that so much money can be raised by your members from within your own organisation without any actual fundraising as such. You should be very proud of yourselves this evening, and rightly so”.

The money raised is going to be used to replace and upgrade medical equipment, specialist beds and mobility aids for the Macmillan Unit at Christchurch Hospital.

Dr. Helen Whalley - added 06/07/11

Dr. Helen Whalley has been appointed as the new Consultant at the Macmillan Unit. She will be joining Dr. Ros Pugh, Senior Consultant in the Autumn. Helen has already completed two attachments to the Macmillan Unit, so is well known to the team. Prior to joining the Macmillan Unit Helen was a Specialist Registrar, and has an MSc (with distinction) in Palliative Care from King’s College London.

Sainsbury's at Castlepoint - added 30/06/11

Sainsbury's at Castlepoint Bournemouth have been fundraising over the course of the year, and came in to the Macmillan Unit to present Macmillan Caring Locally with a cheque for £2000.00.

The fundraising was organised by Sarah King (pictured far right), and it included various events within the store, supported by staff and customers. We would like to thank all Sainsbury's colleagues and customers at Castlepoint who supported this local Charity partnership, and meant that the Macmillan Unit could benefit from such a large sum of money.

The Grove is now open! - added 30/06/11

The Grove is our brand new holiday hotel for people with life threatening illnesses.

This 30 bedroom hotel on the East Cliff in the beautiful seaside resort of Bournemouth is now open after a five month refurbishment programme of every bedroom and public room.

To find out more about The Grove, or to make a reservation please call 01202 552233, or Go to the website.

Bournemouth Hebrew Ladies Guild - added 08/06/11

On Wednesday 18th May the Bournemouth Hebrew Ladies Guild held a formal luncheon with a Hat Show, and presented £2000.00 to Macmillan Caring Locally.

Trust Secretary Neal Williams said "I was delighted to have been invited to this special luncheon, and to have been given the opportunity to do a presentation to the Ladies Guild about our Charity.
To receive a cheque for £2000.00 was a wonderful surprise. The Bournemouth Hebrew Ladies Guild have been great supporters over the years, we are truly grateful for their generosity."

The Grove OPENING SOON - added 23/05/11

After an extensive five month refurbishment programme, our holiday hotel for cancer patients and those with life threatening illnesses, will open on 18th June 2011.

This beautifully located 30 bedroom hotel is a not-for-profit hotel, owned and operated by Macmillan Caring Locally. It has been designed based on 25 years of experience in running a similar facility. The Grove has a Nurse on site (or on call) 24 hours a day, should guests need any advice or in the case of an emergency.

If you would like to know more about The Grove, or would like to make a reservation please call 01202 428151 (prior to the opening on 18th June 2011). If you call after 18th June 2011, please use the telephone number of The Grove 01202 552233.

NEW - Text Your Donation - added 09/05/11

Thanks to JustTextGiving we are now able to accept donations by text.

This service is offered free to our Charity, so every penny you text goes directly to us; which in turn goes towards the care of our Patients.

To use this simple service please text MACM01 followed by the amount that you would like to donate (£1, £2, £3, £4, £5, or £10) to 70070. So for example if you wanted to donate £3 you would text MACM01 £3 to 70070. You can also Gift Aid your donation, which means that we get an extra 28% at no extra cost to you.

New Weather Lottery Jackpot announced - added 04/05/11

We are pleased to announce that the jackpot in our weekly Weather Lottery has increased from £10,000 to £25,000. Our Charity receives 45% of the sales, so every time you play, you are supporting us.

This means that for £1 a week, you get the chance to win a massive £25,000, and unlike the national lottery, you don't share the prize, so if more than one person wins the jackpot, they each get £25,000.

Another benefit of our Weather Lottery is that you don't need to check your numbers. If you have won, Lottery HQ will draw a cheque and send it to you automatically.

To find out more about our Weather Lottery, CLICK HERE

London Marathon 2011 - added 19/04/11

Many congratulations to all our London Marathon runners this year. Everyone made it to the start, and more importantly everyone finished; despite a punishingly hot day.

In the photograph are Debbie Wilson and Marie Sharma, both looking delighted just after completing the Marathon. In the centre is Trust Secretary Neal Williams, looking relieved that he hasn't had to run 26 miles.

Thank you to everyone who took part and raised an amazing amount of money for our Charity.
Further photographs of our runners are on our Flickr page, CLICK HERE to see them.

Bravery Award for local hero - added 18/04/11

Darren Ferguson, Fresh Foods Manager at Sainsburys Christchurch pictured with Deputy Store Manager Kevin Palmer, recently received a Chief Constable's Commendation from the Dorset Police Headquarters for his “prompt and decisive actions in preventing a male threatening to jump from a bridge whilst on duty as a special constable”.

Both Darren and Kevin are keen supporters of Macmillan Caring Locally, and they completed the London Marathon 2011 alongside Sainsburys colleagues Matt Osbourne and Jon Reading.

Trust Secretary Neal Williams said "Darren's actions were very courageous, as he risked his own safety to help another. Thanks to him a young man has been given another chance. Darren is a real hero, and to see him finish the London Marathon for us yesterday was brilliant".

An Evening with Bournemouth Choir of the Year - added 18/04/11

On 9th and 10th July 2011 the Funky Little Choir will be performing at the Regent Centre in Christchurch. The performance starts at 7.30 p.m. and will include songs from Michael Buble, Jackson 5, Disney, Bill Withers and Tina Turner.

The show is supporting Macmillan Caring Locally and is likely to sell out quickly, so it is advisable to reserve tickets as soon as possible.

We are very grateful to the Funky Little Choir for agreeing to do this for us.

Tickets are available from HERE.

Service of Remembrance & Thanksgiving - added 16/03/11

At 3.00 p.m. on 15 May 2011 at the Priory Christchurch there will be a Service of Remembrance and Thanksgiving. The service is in aid of Macmillan Caring Locally, the Youth Cancer Trust and Bournemouth Leukaemia Fund.

In exchange for a donation you can have the name of someone recorded in the 2011 Book of Remembrance. Your donation will go directly to the work of the three Charities, in their continuing care of patients and families in Dorset. To download the information leaflet CLICK HERE

The Gigantic Mirrorball Show - added 09/03/11

Mirrored Shower (plus support) are doing a gig in aid of Macmillan Caring Locally at Champions Venue Westbourne on 16 September 2011; doors open at 7.30 p.m.

To go to the Mirrored Shower web site CLICK HERE

Glenigan - added 08/03/11

Glenigan, the local Construction Industry Support Service based in Seabourne Road Bournemouth, have announced that they are supporting Macmillan Caring Locally this year. Mike Woolfrey (MD) and Graham Newman (Head of Marketing) presented the Charity with a cheque for over £1300 and pledged their future support. Mike Woolfrey said "One of our staff, Carole Cairns was under the care of the Macmillan Unit, and it is something that is close to a lot of people's hearts. Our team are very keen to support the wonderful work that the Macmillan Unit provides".

Fun / Fundraising Day - added 16/02/11

Suzanne and Route 66 will be performing at Chaplins on Saturday 9th April 2011 from 2.00 p.m. til late. They will be joined by the Confusion Band, Darren the house DJ and Rock Choir. There will be a barbecue, raffle and children's entertainment.

Proceeds will be divided between Macmillan Caring Locally and the Stroke Association. Chaplins is at 529 Christchurch Road, Boscombe BH1 4AG.

Find out more HERE

Stewarts Gardenlands support Macmillan Caring Locally - added 03/02/11

Stewarts GardenLands today announced their support for Macmillan Caring Locally in 2011. Stewarts, who were voted Best Plant Retailer for the past two years, will be fund raising in their Garden Centres in Christchurch and in Holt near Wimborne.

Find out more HERE

Sainsbury's Marathon Team - added 24/01/11

Kev, Jon, Matt and Darren from Sainsbury's at Christchurch are running the London Marathon for us in April this year. They are doing some in store promotions to advertise their challenge, and on the morning of 9th April 2011, they will be outside Priory Sports in Saxon Square, Christchurch running on treadmills in readiness for the big day.

Come down to Saxon Square and show them some support. There will also be some entertainment during the course of the morning.

To support them online go to their page

You can now follow us on Twitter - added 14/01/11

You can now follow our tweets.

Go to Macmillan Caring Locally on Twitter

Albany Lodge feature in the Echo - added 29/11/10

Our Hotel for cancer patients and their families Albany Lodge, was recently featured in the Bournemouth Echo.

Follow the link to see the full article

The White Christmas Swim - added 03/11/10

If you fancy doing something completely different on Christmas morning - something really refreshing to get you in the mood for your Christmas lunch - this is for you!

At 10.30 on Christmas morning the annual 'White Christmas Swim' will be taking place. If you would like to take part we are asking for a minimum of £5.00 sponsorship (sponsorship forms can be downloaded from our 'downloads' page). There is also an official Just Giving site where you can make a donation. Christmas Swim

The theme is fancy dress, so use your imagination and wear the most ridiculous costume. The swim will be happening to the right of Boscombe Pier in Bournemouth, and all proceeds are to Macmillan Caring Locally.
With thanks to the Baker family for organising this event.

Sue Hausberger Photo Slideshow - added 02/11/10

Sue Hausberger recently cycled from Austria to Christchurch Dorset in aid of the Macmillan Unit. This was an epic 800 mile journey which she chronicled on her blog and with photographs.

The slideshow is now available in chronological order, so click here to see the whole slideshow.

This was an amazing achievement by anyone's standards, which resulted in thousands of pounds being raised to improve the future care of our patients. Thanks Sue!

The New Forest Marathon 2010 - added 29/09/10

We would like to say a big thank you to all those who took part in the New Forest Marathon and half Marathon.

Amongst our team we would like to thank Vicky Martin, Ann Morgan (seen pictured) and Andy Mckinnon for raising money for Macmillan.

Staff Excellence Awards 2010 - added 28/09/10

We are delighted to announce that at the Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospital Staff Excellence Awards 2010, Penny Hill was awarded Mentor of the Year 2010.

Penny is a valued member of the Nursing Team at the Macmillan Unit at Christchurch Hospital.

We would like to extend our congratulations to Penny on a well deserved award.

Keith Wilkinson Andes to Amazon Cycle Challenge - added 27/09/10

Keith Wilkinson has just returned from Peru where he took part in an amazing Cycle Challenge from the Andes to the Amazon, in aid of Macmillan Caring Locally.

Keith's challenge involved cycling 300 km at high altitude and through rain forests, covering approximately 60 km per day.

We are delighted that he has returned safely, and are extremely grateful for the support he has given Macmillan.

To follow Keith's journey Go to his Facebook page

The Sarah Green Golf Tournament - added 15/09/10

The 8th Sarah Green Golf Tournament took place at Canford Magna Golf Club on 3rd September. Sarah Green was cared for by the Nursing Team at the Macmillan Unit in 2003. As a tribute to Sarah, and as a way of supporting the Macmillan Unit, the Sarah Green Golf Tournament was organised by family and friends.

Neal Williams, Trust Secretary of Macmillan Caring Locally said “The Sarah Green Golf Tournament has raised a huge amount of money for us over the years, enabling us to complete a number of projects that have improved the care of our patients at the Macmillan Unit. We are extremely grateful to the organising committee, the volunteers on the day and to all those who took part, and gave so generously.”

Adidas Hyde Park 5K run - added 06/09/10

Thank you to everyone who ran the Adidas Hyde Park Run on 5 September.

We are very grateful to Joanne Macarthur who ran for us in memory of her Nan. Her sponsorship page is still open. Click here.

Susan Hausberger's Cycle Challenge - added 01/09/10

We are delighted to announce that Susan Hausberger has completed her 880 mile cycle challenge from Austria to the Macmillan Unit in Christchurch UK. Susan was so touched by the care given to her Father at the Macmillan Unit, that she decided to get on her bike to help fund the Unit.

Susan left Austria on 12 August 2010 and arrived at the Macmillan Unit in Christchurch on 27 August 2010.

You can see her progress, see beautiful views of her journey, and sponsor her by visiting her blog. VISIT SUE'S BLOG

Macmillan Purchase The Grove - added 09/08/10

We are delighted to announce that Macmillan Caring Locally has just completed the purchase of the Grove Hotel in Bournemouth. This 35 bed hotel (situated at the top of Bath Hill) will undergo 6 months of refurbishment before opening as our new holiday Hotel for Cancer Patients and their families or carers.

Albany Lodge will continue to operate until the Grove opens, when it will be put on the market.

Round Brownsea Island Swim - added 02/08/10

Rob Sear has just completed a Charity swim around Brownsea Island. This is in preparation for the Toughguy Challenge 2011 which he is taking part in.

Rob did the swim in 2 hours and 10 minutes. He said that the water was 15 degrees, but felt much colder. We are very grateful to Rob for the support of our Charity.

Our Volunteers - added 28/07/10

We rely greatly on the services of our Volunteers. Over a twelve month period we estimate that in excess of 11,000 hours have been contributed at an approximate value to the Charity of over £71,000.00. THANK YOU!

If you would like to Volunteer at the Macmillan Unit, or would like to know more about Volunteering, please send your enquiry to Ann.Church@rbch.nhs.uk.

Expense Declaration - added 28/07/10

In the interests of transparency we would like to make it public that no Trustee of Macmillan Caring Locally has received any remuneration or reimbursement of expenses from the Charity. Our only full time member of Staff, our Trust Secretary received £1206.63 over a twelve month period, as reimbursement of travel expenses. This was for using his own car to travel to meetings with the Hospital Trust, meetings with Fundraisers and Stakeholders, and travel to talks given in the local Community.

As a small local Charity, we only spend 6% of our income on administration.

If you would like to know more about expenses, please send your enquiry to neal@macmillanlocal.org.

The Weather Lottery - added 07/07/10

The last twelve months of running our exciting Weather Lottery has been very successful for our players. 72% of those who signed up to our Weather Lottery have won a cash prize. One lucky supporter has won 10 individual cash prizes in twelve months. No one has won the big £10,000 prize yet, but with the frequency of our smaller wins, we are hoping it is just around the corner!

If you would like to join in the fun and support our Charity at the same time please click here to go to enter, or telephone 01202 477628 for an entry form.

Sue's Cycle Trip from the Tyrol to Christchurch UK - added 30/06/10

Starting on 12 August 2010 Susan Hausberger will be undertaking an 800 mile cycle challenge from the Tyrol to the Macmillan Unit in Christchurch. Susan is doing this amazing challenge to raise funds for the Macmillan Unit in memory of her Father Donald Wright.

To keep updated with Sue's training and her progress please visit Susan's blog page which includes videos and a link to her Just Giving page.

Sainsbury at Castlepoint - added 14/06/10

We are delighted to announce that Sainsbury's at Castlepoint have chosen Macmillan Caring Locally to be their Local Charity Partner for 2010/2011.

We very much look forward to working together with Sainsbury's colleagues and customers over the next twelve months, to build a meaningful partnership and make a positive difference to the local Community.

Charity Dinner Dance at Le Bateau Bistro - added 09/06/10

Le Bateau Bistro are very kindly putting on a Dinner Dance on Tuesday 13 July 2010 at 7.30 p.m. The evening includes a two course meal followed by a DJ and dancing. The bar will be open until late.

The evening is in support of Keith Wilkinson, who is cycling across Peru for Macmillan in September. Go to his Facebook page to book in.

The Great South Run 2010 - added 08/06/10

We have secured a number of guaranteed Charity places in the Great South Run, so if you would like to join our team, please contact Neal on 01202 477628 or neal@macmillanlocal.org.

We will supply you with all the necessary race information, a professional Macmillan running vest, and all the tips and advice on training and raising sponsorship. All we ask is that you raise a minimum sponsorship of £250.00.

Carey climbs Mount Kenya - added 07/06/10

Carey McLoughlin has just successfully climbed Mount Kenya whilst raising funds for Macmillan.

She said "This was a great challenge for me personally but I did it with my Mum firmly in my mind and my heart and am aware of the great personal challenges she was set last year that she tackled with great strength and immense dignity.

I did this for her first and foremeost, but also for the people who worked so hard to make her comfortable and happy in the few months that she stayed at the Macmillan Unit. They are amazing and continue to do a fantastic job. I know that the money raised through my journey up Mt Kenya will be put to good use by them and it will make someone else's life more comfortable for a while and provide amazing support and relief to their families".

The Ricky Fletcher Memorial Football Match 30 May 2010 - added 07/06/10

Sunday 30th May saw the annual Ricky Fletcher Memorial Football match take place in aid of the Macmillan Unit. SK Sports played against Branksome Con Club at the Bournemouth Electric Club. South Kinson Sports won the match three goals to two.

Neal Williams (Trust Secretary of Macmillan) and Andy Martin (Bournemouth Echo) distributed the medals and Trophy at the end of the match. Neal Williams said "I am so grateful to you all for giving up your time to enjoy a friendly football match, and at the same time raising money for the Macmillan Unit. This is a fitting tribute to Ricky - who was obviously someone very special, greatly missed by you all."

The 8th Sarah Green Golf Tournament - added 28/04/10

The 8th Sarah Green Golf Tournament takes place on Friday 3 September 2010 at Canford Magna Golf Club near Wimborne.

The event offers a top day of golf in beautiful surroundings along the River Stour with the opportunity of winning the coveted Sarah Green Trophy and many other fabulous prizes. Following the golf will be a 4 course gala dinner and entertainment.

We are delighted that the Tournament has raised over £30,000 for Macmillan Caring Locally, money which has made a huge difference to the care of our Patients at the Macmillan Unit. If you would like to take part please CLICK HERE to download an entry form.

The Great South Run 2010 - added 01/03/10

The Great South Run takes place in Portsmouth on 24th October 2010. It is Europe's most popular 10 mile race and will be celebrating its 20th year in 2010.

We have secured a number of guaranteed Charity places in the Great South Run, so if you would like to join our team, please contact Neal on 01202 477628 or neal@macmillanlocal.org.

New website launched - added 11/02/10

In line with the re-branding of Macmillan Caring Locally, we are pleased to announce the launch of our new website. Please bear with us as news items and photo galleries are uploaded.
If you have any comments or suggestions regarding our new look, please contact Neal on 01202 477628 or neal@macmillanlocal.org.

The Macmillan Unit is awarded 'Practice Development Unit Status' - added 11/02/10

Staff in the Macmillan Unit at Christchurch Hospital are celebrating having received a Practice Development Unit (PDU) Accreditation. The accreditation was awarded to staff by the Institute of Health and Community Studies at Bournemouth University.

The University has been assessing the Macmillan Unit since September 2008, reviewing their progress in meeting a total of 13 standards that are required to achieve the award. These included the Unit’s service provision, communication structure, staff development programme and the provision of patient information.

Members of staff were encouraged to come up with ideas on how to turn good practice into best practice. This led to a number of improvements within the Unit. For example, a children’s area has been created so children are occupied when visiting patients, patient information leaflets have been produced and palliative care education sessions have been introduced for community nurses.

Sharon Cudlip, Clinical Leader at the Macmillan Unit commented: “Staff are so proud that the Macmillan Unit has been awarded PDU Accreditation. It is fantastic recognition of how hard the team works to constantly develop better working practices that improve the patient experience and maintain the highest standard for palliative care.”

Linda Kaye, PDU Consultant at Bournemouth University commented: "The panel was very impressed with the staff of the Macmillan Unit and they have worked hard to achieve the requirements for accreditation. This has involved staff developing and improving the care and services they offer to patients, using the appropriate research and evidence base."

Christmas cards at the Macmillan Unit - added 01/12/09

One of our Palliative Care Sisters is also an accomplished artist. Every year Anne Gooch designs and then paints a selection of images which are then made into Christmas cards.

The cards are available to purchase in the Macmillan Unit reception during December, and all proceeds go to Macmillan Caring Locally.

NATS Ramble - added 01/12/09

Ariana and James work for NATS at Bournemouth Airport. One of their well loved colleagues received treatment at the Macmillan Unit. In her memory they decided to do a sponsored walk from their offices at Hurn to their new offices at Whiteley - a total of 37 miles.

They raised an amazing £2,000.00. It was a particularly gruelling challenge, complicated by driving rain and strong winds. You can see how exhausted they are in the photo below.