New Decade. New Year. New You?
A week into the new year and with the Christmas festivities now firmly behind us, how many of us admit to eating one too many mince pies and consuming our own body weight in chocolate? If you answered yes then fear not, Rowans Hospice has a new year challenge to suit everyone!
Announcing an exciting calendar of fundraising events for 2020, Craig Willcock, Fundraising and Events Manager at Rowans Hospice encouraged everyone to “sign up today to make a positive start in 2020 for you and your community Hospice.” Offering everything from adrenaline-fueled adventures and sporting challenges, to community quizzes, there really is something for everyone, including children and teens.
Whether your New Year’s Resolution is to get fit, fitter or faster, taking up one of Rowans’ many sporting challenges throughout the year could be a great motivator.
On 29 March we have the first of our four tandem SkyDive challenges, with further jumps in May, July and September. Imagine free-falling 5,000 feet at 120mph, before your parachute opens for a 5-minute canopy ride over the stunning Salisbury Plain, with views right across to the Solent! Choose your date and register online. If you are a business looking for a great team-building event or exciting team challenge, why not SkyDive and fundraise for Rowans Hospice this year?
Next up is the Virgin London Marathon on 26 April. Turn your 5K into £5K on this 26.2-mile tour of iconic London landmarks while running for Rowans. Get in touch if you’re running and would like to fundraise for us.
In May, the Rowans Hospice flagship event, Moonlit Memories Walk, provides a perfect reason to start training for the 6- or 10-mile route around Southsea, Old Portsmouth and the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard on Saturday 16 May. We are offering an early bird rate of just £10 if you register before 31 January, so what better reason to sign up today? This is a fun-filled event for all the family so why not get everyone signed up – as well as getting the kids away from tech-time, you also get to enjoy quality time training together. Please note children must be aged 11 or over.
If you are looking for an immediate adrenaline hit, then we have the opportunity to abseil the Spinnaker Tower, a 100-metre descent not for the faint-hearted. Join us on 4 July at Gunwharf Quays to test your mettle while raising vital funds for us.
September sees the Rowans Ride cycle challenge. Whether you cycle for leisure or for fitness, there is something for all abilities. Take on the leisurely 25km, go for the challenge route with 65km, or go epic with a 100km, this really is another great event for a great cause. Cycle in memory of a loved one, gather your teammates for a fun day Sunday, or go solo for a personal best.
Finally, you can sign up for one of Rowans’ charity places in the Great South Run on 18 October. As the world’s leading 10-mile running event, runners experience the south coast at its best while celebrating everything that’s great about Portsmouth. The fully paved route includes the iconic Spinnaker Tower, Southsea Seafront and Portsmouth Historic Dockyard with Nelson’s flagship HMS Victory. This fast, flat course is perfect for anyone looking for a personal best!
Concluding, Craig said “if throwing yourself from a plane or running long distance isn’t your thing, fear not. A range of community events are also planned throughout the year ranging from quiz nights and a Spring Market, to a concert with Beverley Craven and a Charity Ball, hosted by the Mayor of Fareham. Alternatively, if you have a specific personal challenge you want to complete, why not do it raising money for Rowans? Just let us know and we will support you with fundraising ideas and advice, plus we will provide you with everything from balloons to collection buckets.”
He added: “By committing to an event today or by volunteering for Rowans, to help make these events happen, you can fulfil your own personal New Year’s Resolution and help to ensure that care is available for patients and families affected by life-limiting illnesses, within your local community.”
For a full list of upcoming events including the Rowans Summer Fete, Starlit Walk, Christmas Fair, UK Trek and Silver Jubilee Ball, visit www.rowanshospice.co.uk and make a positive start to 2020.