A Hexham woman has celebrated her 80th birthday by taking to the high ropes to raise an incredible £4,000 for Tynedale Hospice at Home.
Alison, who lives in Hexham, took on the the Go Ape course at Matfen Hall in Northumberland on Saturday, 16 September. The challenge involved a high rope obstacle course, leaping off Tarzan Swings and a zip wire.
No stranger to fundraising challenges, she has celebrated her milestone birthdays in impressive style in recent years. At 70 she swum a mile and raised £2,000, and when she turned 75 she zipped wired across the River Tyne raising £6,000 – all for Tynedale Hospice at Home.
Alison is keen a supporter of the Hospice, having volunteered in its charity and book shop in Hexham for many years and she is also a volunteer for its Hospital Transport Service. Once a month she hosts a coffee morning at Trinity Church in Hexham selling home-baked goods with all proceeds going to the Hospice. Over the years she has helped raised in excess of £22,000 for the charity.
Alison said: “I have been involved with the Hospice for years. My Dad used to own a newsagents in what is now Tynedale Hospice at Home’s charity shop building on Battle Hill in Hexham so it seemed a natural fit to start volunteering when the Hospice moved into it.
“I know many people who have used the Hospice’s services. They make a huge difference to patients and their families, providing amazing care at what can be an extremely difficult time. I can’t think of a better reason to put myself through these challenges. Knowing I am supporting a charity close to my heart is all the motivation I need.
Alison was joined by family and friends in the challenge, including her great niece Rachel Burt originally from New Zealand and her sister Chris Hood, 70, who lives in Wooler.
“It was brilliant to have so many family and friends join me on the course and cheer me on. It was an amazing experience – very hard but lots of fun. Some of the toughest parts were the rope ladder and negotiating the cargo netting. The rope ladder had 13 rungs! Despite it being hard it was definitely worth it to raise such a great amount for Tynedale Hospice at Home. It was a very memorable way to see in a new decade!”
All funds raised will support the work of Tynedale Hospice at Home which provides palliative nursing care to people in their own homes, Family Support Services and a Hospital Transport Service to people living in Tynedale, West Northumberland, Ponteland and the surrounding areas.
Laura Elliott, fundraising manager for Tynedale Hospice at Home, said “Alison is an inspiration to us all. She is a long-time supporter of the Hospice and we are so grateful for everything she does – from her baking and volunteering, to amazing fundraising challenges like this. It’s thanks to people like her that we are able to continue to offer our vital services which are lifeline to so many in our local community.
“Many people have a bucket list of ambitions they’d like to complete in their life time – whether it’s a big challenge like climbing Everest Base Camp, cycling the Coast to Coast or something smaller like hosting a bake sale. At Tynedale Hospice at Home we call it ‘The Life List’ where you can achieve your dreams and support your local hospice at the same time.”
To find out Tynedale Hospice at Home’s ‘Life List of Challenges’, email fundraising@tynedalehospice.com.
You can still sponsor Alison at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/alison-ross80