Willow Wood Hospice is celebrating the soaring success of its annual Butterfly Memory Appeal, which this year raised a record-breaking £27,000 to help fund its vital services across Tameside and Glossop.
On Saturday, 12th July, hundreds of supporters gathered in the peaceful gardens of the Ashton-under-Lyne-based hospice to release 900 butterflies, in memory of their loved ones. The poignant event, which ran across three fully booked ceremonies, took place in beautiful sunshine and provided a heartfelt opportunity for reflection and remembrance.
Each summer, the Hospice invites the community to dedicate a butterfly in honour of someone special, whether or not they received care at Willow Wood. In return, supporters receive a personalised certificate, and both their names and those of their loved ones are included in the Butterfly Memory Book, which was on display during the event.
Bethan Creighton, Family Support Lead, and Volunteer Chaplain Mark Creighton opened each ceremony with words of comfort before families released their butterflies from elegant boxes, supplied by Butterflies for Occasions. The moving ceremonies were accompanied by music from the Willow Wood Hospice Choir, adding to the atmosphere of love and remembrance.
This year’s appeal was further graced by the presence of distinguished guests including the Civic Mayor of Tameside, Councillor Shibley Alam, who has chosen Willow Wood as one of her charities of the year, along with her Consort, Mohammed Khairul Alam. Also attending were the Lord-Lieutenant of Greater Manchester, Diane Hawkins JP LLB, and Hospice Patron and Vice Lord-Lieutenant Sharman Birtles MBE JP DL.
The event was a true community affair, with volunteers and staff running stalls offering refreshments, home-baked cakes, crafts, plants, and a lively tombola and raffle, all contributing to the appeal’s success.
Samantha Kitch, Supporter Care Manager at Willow Wood and lead organiser of the Butterfly Memory Appeal, said: “We are absolutely overwhelmed by the incredible success of this year’s appeal and wholeheartedly thank everyone who dedicated a butterfly and supported the event, which really was a memorable occasion.
“It’s through the generosity and compassion of our community that we can continue our vital work and ensure that memories live on.
“We’re grateful to Butterflies for Occasions for supplying the butterflies – there were lots of nice comments about the lovely boxes they were in.”
As the cost of hospice care continues to rise, with a 33% increase in service delivery costs across Greater Manchester since 2020, support from the local community remains essential. Willow Wood now requires £3.6 million annually to continue providing compassionate and specialist care, 70% of which is delivered by the Community Services team, both at the Hospice and in patients’ homes.
With only 24% of its income coming from government funding, the Hospice must rely heavily on donations, fundraising events, charity shop sales, and volunteers to bridge the funding gap. In March, Willow Wood’s CEO Tracy Minshull and Clinical Director Nicola Cheetham joined other hospice leaders at Westminster to call on MPs to support much-needed reform in hospice funding.
The Butterfly Memory Release is just one of many fundraising events on Willow Wood’s calendar. Looking ahead, the Hospice is already preparing for its next major community event – a Wicked-themed 5k Walk around Stamford Park and Chadwick Dam on Saturday, 21st September.
To find out more about how you can support Willow Wood Hospice, visit www.willowwood.org.uk.
The Civic Mayor of Tameside Cllr Shibley Alam released a butterfly on behalf of the local community. Credit: Willow Wood Hospice
Space Station Nursery blasts off into their 9th year with birthday bash and Ofsted praise
'Bones' discovered in Oldham garden
Oldham ‘in talks’ on new police station
Police carry out stop and search operations in town centre
