Fundraisers are running the gauntlet for The Rosemary Foundation
The Rosemary Foundation has always been fortunate that people are prepared to raise money for us through organised charity events and sponsored challenges, but the Olympics seems to be inspiring lots of people to put on their trainers and run for us:
- Not only are we the nominated charity for a second year at the Butser Hill Challenge, but a team of four runners is planning to compete in the team competition and raise some money on the demanding hill climb on September 18.
- In addition, another of our great supporters Jonathan Pratt, an antiques expert who regularly appears on television, has entered the Winchester Half Marathon on September 25 to raise money for us.
- And on October 23, Simon Ware is supporting us on the Great South Run in Portsmouth. Simon has taken part in this race every year since the event began in 1990, each year raising funds for a local charity.
As we are a charity, we depend on the efforts of supporters like these so we can continue to provide our ‘Hospice at Home’ service in Petersfield and the surrounding towns and villages. We mainly help patients in the latter stage of life-limiting conditions and our services are more and more in demand each year.
TV antiques expert ready to Flog It! Around Winchester
Jonathan Pratt is the managing director of Bellmans, the Sussex based auctioneers and valuers. A regular expert on BBC’s Bargain Hunt and Flog It! He has also been a good supporter of The Rosemary Foundation, helping us several times before at charity auctions.
The Winchester Half Marathon will be Jonathan’s fourth charity run. He often works in Winchester and got to know us through friends in the area, so he was keen to enter this race to raise more money for the Foundation. Jonathan is working hard to prepare for the event and aims to raise at least £500 for us this time and he’s set up a Virgin Money Giving page for the Winchester event for people to send their donations to.
Runners aiming for the high ground on the Butser Hill Challenge
At more than 880 feet, Butser Hill is the highest point on the South Downs and the 5km course is a tough challenge for any runner.
Last year the Butser Hill Challenge raised £4000 for The Rosemary Foundation which helped us hugely.
Andy Coles, from Petersfield has been training with three other friends from the area for the past six months to enter a Rosemary Foundation team for the event. Andy, who is 57, has already completed two marathons for the Foundation. His wife, Lindy is one of our nurses and she will be there, with some more of our nurses, to lend some encouragement.
The senior race sets off at 12.30pm. If you come to watch, please visit us at our gazebo and help us cheer on all the runners – there’s always a brilliant atmosphere on the beautiful grassy slopes of the hill. You can also show your support by sponsoring the team on the JustGiving website.
Simon plans to run beside the seaside
And if you’d like to support Simon Ware on his way around the seafront course of the Great South Run, he’s set up a donating page on Virgin Money Giving, if you’d like to support him.
If you don’t like to use online methods, you can support all our runners by bringing a donation for The Rosemary Foundation to our mail box at 35 Lavant Street, Petersfield, Hampshire, GU32 3EL.
We want to let our supporters know how much we appreciate their efforts and we hope as many people as possible turn out to cheer them on at all three runs – THANK YOU!
