Lorraine Charlesworth, the hospice’s director of community and income, tells of all the exciting fundraising events being held by St Catherine’s this summer:

The weather is getting warmer and we’re starting to see a bit more sunshine, which can only mean one thing – the St Catherine’s event season is rapidly approaching!

We have already had the annual Plant Sale and Car Boot, which saw a great turnout despite the downpours, and a couple of weeks ago we had our first Wiggle 4 Counties Cycle Ride – it  was exhausting just watching the cyclists return after their 100-mile challenge!

And there’s more to come, with an action-packed calendar of events lined up throughout June, featuring everything from a bling-tastic Bollywood Night to the 10th anniversary of our popular Moonlight and Memories Walk.

We are looking forward to once again welcoming the public into the grounds of St Catherine’s Park for a host of attractions, raising vital funds to care for people with life-shortening illnesses both at the hospice and in the Central Lancashire community.

Not only are our hospice events great fun – and sometimes very poignant – they’re an incredibly important part of our fundraising programme, as all the money generated helps St Catherine’s continue to provide specialist palliative and end-of-life care to local people, whilst also supporting their loved ones through a range of dedicated services.

It means the world to us that the public is so supportive of our work, and if you can enjoy yourself in the process, then all the better!

A garden marquee will be set up on the lawn to host a number of the events, following the popularity of the pop-up venue during our 30th anniversary celebrations last year.

First on the agenda is a Bollywood Night on 3^rd June, organised in partnership with Preston-based Neesh Events and featuring traditional Indian music, dancing, henna tattoo art and a mouth-watering buffet.

There’s a Yoga Retreat during the day on 4^th June, before the poignant Moonlight and Memories Walk that evening. Walkers will take on a family-friendly four-mile trek or the full 10-mile route (one mile for every year the fundraiser has run) – both setting off and finishing at the hospice in Lostock Hall.

We’ve teamed up with Leyland’s Guest Boutique to host a Summer Fashion Fayre in our marquee on 8^th June, and there’s our annual Quiz Night on the 9^th.

The glittering Summer Ball on 11^th June includes a drinks reception on the lawn, a delicious meal courtesy of The Mill Outside, fantastic entertainment from The Soul Convicts and a raffle and auction featuring a host of top prizes.

Another chance to dress to impress is at the Ascot Ladies’ Day on 16^th June – to which gents are also welcome – featuring lunch, entertainment, the racing live on screen and the chance to have a flutter on the horses courtesy of BetSid.

Yellow Day on 19^th June invites families to enjoy a host of attractions including garden games, crafts stalls, entertainment from Irish dancers and the Preston Pipe Band, a bouncy castle and giant inflatable slide, and even a slimey scientific fun station!

The yellow ribbon appeal has now launched for the occasion, which sees hundreds of ribbons tied in memory of loved ones to provide a poignant backdrop for the summer.

Each ribbon includes the name of the person a donation has been pledged for, with money raised going to support the specialised care of the hospice.

And the summer events season finishes on a high with the marvellous Symphony at the Tower shows at Hoghton Tower, featuring Pop Idol Will Young on Friday 1^st July , blues guitarist Joe Bonamassa on 2^nd July, and the Symphony Spectacular classical concert and fireworks on 3^rd July.

For more details about all of our fantastic events, and to get tickets or to sign up, click here or call 01772 629171.