It is with sadness and immense gratitude that we announce the resignation of Helen’s Trust Founder, Dr Louise Jordan, as Deputy Chair of the Board of Trustees. We thank Louise for her enormous contribution to the end of life care services available to the people of North Derbyshire through her hard work and dedication to Helen’s Trust, and for the last 2 years, Blythe House Hospicecare. Dr Jordan has shared the following message on her resignation:

Dear friends and supporters.

I am so proud to be a founding trustee of Helen’s Trust.

Back in 2001 a few friends gathered to remember Helen Louse Lyon who, due to exceptional circumstances, was able to stay in her own home and have a peaceful and dignified death. Being able to stay and die in your own home was not so easy then, so the simple goal was to set up a charity in her memory to enable other’s to have the same choice that Helen had. Fortunately, the national picture has changed over the last two decades and the importance of being able to die at home has now been recognised. Not only is it, in the majority of patients, what the individual wishes for but also it allows friends and family to have a  far healthier bereavement. The benefits of being able to die at home make sense to the individual, the family, the community and the financial purse.

Initially we all met around a coffee table and as the charity grew were gifted use of a room and then rented some larger rooms. The charity went from helping people just at Baslow Health Centre to helping anyone in the north of the county of Derbyshire.

Our aspiration was to employ our own trained carers but found too many barriers to doing this for our size. Blythe House started to develop a similar service in 2016 with the benefits of training their own carers, under the watchful eyes of Janet Dunphy and Ruth Brown. It became increasingly obvious that working together we would be stronger, more efficient and be able to help more and more people. This has been an incredibly successful partnership entered into in 2020.

Deciding to resign from the board of trustees has been one of the most difficult things I have had to do. Unfortunately, I have a neurological condition that significantly impacts on my ability to speak. My voice has always been strong, passionate, and loud at events, presentations, and board meetings…maybe too loud I hear some of you say! Despite the patience of my fellow trustees and the kindness of the employed staff at Blythe House and Helen’s Trust I find I can no longer contribute in a meaningful way.

I will always support Helen’s Trust and feel very confident that, in partnership with Blythe House, it is on a very sound footing and in very capable hands.

With all best wishes

Dr Louise Jordan

Chair of Helen’s Trust 2001 – 2020

Deputy Chair of Blythe House Hospicecare & Helen’s Trust 2020 to 2022

Do you fancy committing to a New Years’ Resolution that isn’t going to go straight out of the window by the 7^th of January?

We’re looking for local people to support Blythe House Hospicecare and Helen’s Trust by taking on a fitness challenge and helping to raise vital funds for our much-needed services.

Sarah Denwood raised an incredible £1,250 for local hospice care by running over 870 miles to complete the Lands’ End to John O’Groats Virtual Challenge throughout 2021.

The Chapel-en-le-Frith resident said: ‘I am very aware of the services that the hospice provides and know many people that have benefitted from them. I’ve never been a runner and always hated it; even hiding on the cross-country route at school so I didn’t have to do the whole run.

‘During lockdown I was challenged to do a 5km run for the NHS and from then on, I’ve enjoyed it. As the months have gone by I’ve done more running and have increased my pace and distance, so as a challenge for myself I signed up to do a virtual run from Lands’ End to John O’Groats to raise money for the hospice.’

Scott Beswick from Buxton smashed his fundraising target when he took on the London Marathon last year. He raised over £2,347 for hospice services that supported his mother-in-law, Julie when she was diagnosed with breast cancer.

He previously explained: ‘Amidst the constant stream of appointments and intense treatment here, there and everywhere, Blythe House supported Julie and our family from her very first meeting; providing her with weekly day-care services including activities, complementary therapies, and opportunities to meet others who share similar experiences, as well as practical help and advice.

‘To thank Blythe House for everything they have done and continue to do for Julie, our family and other families similar to ours, I want to put myself out there and complete the biggest challenge of my life whilst raising vital funds for the charity.’

Remember! You don’t need to undertake a running challenge to support Blythe House and Helen’s Trust services – here are just a few ideas for other fitness initiatives you could take on in the name of hospice care:

• Bike ride
• Climb a mountain… or mountains with an event like the Three Peaks Challenge!
• Dance competition
• Muddy obstacle event e.g. Tough Mudder or X-Runner
• Sponsored walk
• Sporting tournament
• Swimathon
• Tri/ duathlon

Find out more about how you could support your local hospice with a fitness challenge to see in 2022 with all the very best intentions for both yourself and your local community, by visiting our website:  www.blythehousehospice.org.uk/support-us/individuals-and-groups

There, you can read a digital copy of our supporter pack, or request a printed copy by contacting the fundraising team on 01298 815 388 or by emailing: fundraising@blythehouse.co.uk

The 2021 Helen’s Trust Chatsworth 10k, sponsored by BRM Solicitors, was the first of many fundraising events that was continued since the merger. Held within the Chatsworth Estate on Sunday 12^th September, the fundraising event welcomed over 900 runners across the 10k and 3k races.

It was a day full of positivity and team spirit, with runners Derbyshire and beyond coming to take on the challenging and picturesque 10k route. The event raised a staggering £33,500 which can pay for 50 bereaved children to individually access a 12 week course of specialist counselling so they can learn how to cope with their loss. Many runner’s sponsorship contributed to the total raised – with one individual, Tracey Howard, raising an incredible £3,820 on her own!

Becca Gregory our Fundraising and Communications Manager, said; ‘We are delighted that the Chatsworth 10k was able to make a return this year, following the cancellation of the 2020 event due to Covid-19, and it was an amazing atmosphere on the day. I would like to thank the local businesses whose contributions made a huge difference to the amount of money we were able to raise for the charity; whether it was through sponsorship or donation of services. The event was also supported by many incredible volunteers who marshalled the course, registered runners and aided traffic management, and without them the Chatsworth 10k wouldn’t happen.’

Fairfield Builders Supplies, Buxton & Studio10 Kitchens, Bakewell sponsored the kilometre markers, Holdsworth Foods & Morrisons Buxton donated over 1000 cereal bars for the runners and Buxton Water donated all of the water for the event.

The 10k, chip timed, course is particularly spectacular, set within the impressive Chatsworth Estate. The sun was shining and the Duchess of Devonshire was in attendance to hand out medals and cheer runners across the finish line.

The 2022 Chatsworth 10k will be held Sunday 18^th September- registration will open in the new year.

To check out up and coming festive events for Blythe House Hospicecare and Helen’s Trust visit our events page

Squadron Leader Nick Critchell, Red 3 of the Red Arrows team talks to Blythe House Hospicecare and Helen’s Trust about his generous donation of a rare piece of RED Arrows memorabilia.

Tell us a little bit about your career so far in the RAF?

I joined the RAF back in 2008 after studying aerospace business systems at Salford University. I completed my training at RAF Valley having flown the Grob Tutor, Tucano and Hawk T1. I was then posted to the Typhoon FGR4, serving on 1(F) and II(AC) Squadrons at both RAF Leuchars and RAF Lossiemouth. During my three-year tour, I was deployed to the Falkland Islands and conducted air policing operations on both UK Quick Reaction Alert and in the Baltic as well as participating in multinational exercises that included Ex Red Flag at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. Then in 2016 I was posted to the RAF Valley as a Qualified Flying Instructor on the Hawk T2 aircraft.

How does it feel being part of the Red arrows team?

It’s a fantastic privilege to represent the UK, MOD and RAF across the world. The Hawk T1 is like the classic sports car of the RAF’s fast jet aircraft and it’s a boyhood dream to be able to don the red suit and fly such a British icon. Being part of the next generation is a real honour.

What do you enjoy the most about being part of the team? 

I feel so lucky to be a part of the Red Arrows team, this year being able to fly once more and meet the large fan base who hold the team in such high regard makes it even more special to be RED 3.

What is your favourite flying manoeuvre to fly?

Enid (Reds 1-5) fly a manoeuvre called ‘Rollbacks’ during the second half of the display. This is my favourite as it is one of the most dynamic manoeuvres we fly as the front 5 where we roll over the top of the aircraft next to us, changing formation position.

Where is the most exciting place that the suit has flown?

I wore the suit during the Paris and London flypasts where the Red Arrows flew with the French display team, the Patrouille de France for the French president and our Prime Minister, Boris Johnson. It was also worn during displays in Finland and Guernsey.

Pictured both teams over London’s landmarks. Image by Dave Jenkins.

What made you choose Blythe House Hospicecare and Helen’s Trust to be the recipients of the suit?

When I decided to donate my 2020 suit, Blythe House Hospicecare and Helen’s Trust was my first choice of charity. They have done so much during lockdown to support their local community. I also saw how a friend of my family, Caroline Morgan, received a lot of support from Blythe House Hospice when her husband, Dean, was diagnosed with terminal cancer. The support included counselling for her and her two boys who were just 3 and 6 years old. I just hope that this donated suit will generate funds and help Blythe House Hospicecare & Helen’s Trust continue to provide outstanding end of life care.

Trivia about the Red Arrows Team

1. The first official Red Arrows display was on May 6, 1965 at Little Rissington.
2. The first public Red Arrows display was on May 9, 1965 at Clermont Ferrand, France.
3. The first female Red Arrow pilot was announced in 2010 – Flt Lt Kirsty Moore.
4. The Red Arrows engine is a Rolls-Royce Mk 151 and it can reach speeds of up to 645 mph at sea level
5. The formation the pilots fly in is always the same.
6. When in flight, the Red Arrow pilot’s body weight can be six times lighter than usual.
7. In 1968 – when the team increased from seven to nine – the Red Arrow’s diamond-shaped flying formation, the Diamond Nine, became iconic and was registered as an official trademark.
8. There are three types of display the pilots can perform, weather permitting – the Full Display, the Rolling Display and the Flat Display.
9. ​​Every year, three pilots are changed, so there is always three first year pilots, three second year pilots and three final year pilots.
10. The Red Arrows display has taken place in more than 50 countries around the world.

If you would like to be in with a chance of winning a rare piece of Red Arrows Memorabilia go to https://blythehousehospice.org.uk/redarrowsraffle/

We’re delighted and grateful that our charity golf day in Buxton has raised over £5,100 for local hospice services.

Ninety golfers came together on Friday 11^th June for the event at Buxton and High Peak Golf Club, and enjoyed the fine weather on their round.

There were some great prizes for the winners including vouchers and golfing equipment very kindly donated by local businesses.

A bottle tombola with wines, beers and spirits proved popular with players too, helping to boost the event’s fundraising total for local care.

The money raised will fund Blythe House and Helen’s Trust care including the 24/7 Hospice at Home service which enables patients who’re at the end of their life to stay in the comfortable surroundings of their own home.

Becca Gregory, fundraising and events coordinator, commented: ‘I’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who made the golf day such a success; participants, volunteers who supported the event, and Buxton and High Peak Golf Club for once again playing host, and being so accommodating.

‘My sincere thanks to local companies who supported the event with donations of prizes or sponsorship, including Buxton Woodworks, DRiV International,  Home Instead care, New Mills Golf Club and Pak-Pro Ltd. I am also very grateful to local shops and hospice supporters who donated bottles for the tombola.’

Golfers who’re keen to support Blythe House and Helen’s Trust can get involved in upcoming events this summer:

• Chapel-en-le-Frith Golf Club charity golf day on Friday 20^th August – entry is £40 per player to include hot drink and bacon roll on arrival, and pulled pork baps or wood-fired pizza after tournament. Register online.
• 20^th annual Helen’s Trust Sickleholme Golf Day on Friday 27^th August – entry is £210 per 4ball to include coffee and biscuits on arrival, BBQ and drinks at the 13th hole, Cava at 18th hole, three-course carvery meal after the tournament. To book, please contact Becca on 01298 875 089 or email: events@blythehouse.co.uk.