Cancer ; The word sends a chill through us all and we have all had a family member of friend fall victim to it. My mother died a hideous death with it. We are told greater numbers of people survive it. But what of those who receive the death sentence?
Here in Manchester a marvellous little place called Francis House provides marvellous end of life care for terminally ill children mainly with cancer. The Hospice movement in England is appallingly funded. They take so much stress and work away from our overworked National Health Service and yet receive no or little government funding. Consequently, Hospices all over the country rely on donations and yet they cost £660 an hour to run. Fundraising is essential and what better way to raise funds than by using plastic ducks.
The Duck Race is one of several fund raising events that are organised every year to fund our local hospices ourselves. Next month I am doing the Manchester Midnight 10km Walk. That's hard work but today's Duck race was easy and fun way to raise much needed funds.
Finding a Wizzley category for this was difficult... health ? not really? travel and place ... perhaps ? I decided to place it under Culture and Society as it is our society that puts us in a place where our government considers dignified end of life care is so unimportant, that it will not fund it properly.
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Comments
The computer crashed before I commenced another component of my comment below.
You calculate in your comment Jun 23, 2017, a possible 2-hour run time. Is that less than, more than or the same as your actual task-completion timing?
Thank you for your comment below in answer to my previous observation and question.
Beginning a marathon at midnight impresses me. Is the route well-lighted so that all ages know where they end and the next person begins and where they put their feet?
(It must be so even as otherwise it most certainly would not be a repeat event ;-D!)
It is a lovely occasion. It is truly a family occasion and everyone brings picnics. We went again this year. My grandson got to sit in a fire engine kindly brought along by the fire brigade!
Yes I am doing the 10km tonight in aid of the cancer hospice . We will set off around Manchester city centre at Midnight ! I am hoping for about 2 hours .
Veronica, Thank you for sharing such an important fundraiser with us. The ducks look so colorful. Do the children and young adults get to attend the event or watch a film of it at the time or afterwards? Is the Manchester 10k really held at midnight?
I am delighted to hear that your cancer was removed successfully. There has been huge progress in cancer treatment, pain relief and palliative care since my mother died from it nearly 36 years ago.
The race is a good way to raise much needed funds. I am doing the Manchester Midnight 10km for the hospice on June 24th. People are quite devoted to local hospice care. Thankfully.
Do keep well and well done on your positive outlook.
We had one in this area years ago, but if the duck got stuck it was not released again. I see the many colors used, but here the ducks all looked alike and no one knew who won until the duck was netted and a number on the bottom was read.
I was fortunate to have cancer removed by surgery.
The approx total of money raised for the children's cancer hospice is over £15,000 .
Wonderful.
Yes, I thought it deserved some acknowledgment for ingenuity. There were hundreds of people there all laughing and cheering on a plastic duck ! I do so hope they make some money for those people who are terminally ill.
Wonderful way to raise funds for hospices. Fun for all ages, and thank goodness for those boy scouts rescuing and releasing stuck ducks. Will there be a pink flamingo contest?
Culture and Society is the right category for this article. Your focus on the places and cultural events of Cheshire, particularly your local area, which is in North East Cheshire, is a very positive form of specialization. Good writing often involves finding your own niche and working on it, which you have done.