80s Messy Madness event raises thousands for hospice

Hundreds of participants enjoyed a day of bubbles, foam and gunge earlier this month.

 

The 80s Messy Madness event – organised by St Richard’s Hospice – took place at Churchfields Farmhouse Ice-cream in Salwarpe, near Droitwich.  It is set to raise more than £15,000 for the charity.

 

The 350 participants dressed up in their brightest and boldest 80s outfits to walk, skip, dance or run around the 5km course.  A DJ provided classic 80s entertainment alongside family activities including a discounted price for the maize maze.

 

Kelly Johns, Fundraiser said: “We would like to thank all those who took part in our 80s Messy Madness event – it really was a fabulous day!

 

“Raising funds for the hospice is so important, as it allows us to continue our care into the future – and it was great to see everyone having fun too.”

 

On finishing the run, all participants received a medal and a tub of homemade Churchfields ice-cream.

 

Peter Reeves, General Manager, from event sponsor Majestic Bingo Worcester, said: “Majestic Bingo is extremely proud to have been the main sponsor for the Messy Madness event earlier this month. 

 

“Not only is it a charity close to my heart, it is also important to many of our customers. It was an absolute pleasure to have supported this event for the first time.

 

“We had a Majestic Bingo team of five who ran the course; not one of us came back unscathed!  We were all covered from head to toe in gunge, paint and foam and foam; messy indeed but enjoyed by all!

 

“The whole hospice team and the runners were truly amazing in making us feel welcome and it was great to get out and meet new people and invite them to our friendly bingo club that offers a fun afternoon or evening out and pays big cash prizes every session!”

 

Majestic Bingo will be hosting two charity nights in aid of the hospice; the first is on Sunday 2 September when two members of staff will be gunged live on stage.  The second is a charity bike ride on Friday 7 September.

 

St Richard’s Hospice provides free specialist palliative and end of life care for patients living with life-limiting illnesses and supports their loved ones. Each year the hospice team supports more than 3,300 patients, family members and bereaved people in Worcestershire.

 

The hospice strives to provide the best medical, practical, emotional and social support they can to help people live life to the fullest, as independently as they can, for as long as they can. They care for people with a range of illnesses including heart failure, Parkinson’s, and motor neurone disease as well as cancer. 

St Richard’s has launched the Build 2020 Appeal which aims to raise the final £1.4m needed to build a bigger hospice, enabling more patients and families to be cared for in Worcestershire.

 

The total cost for expanding and redeveloping the existing building in Wildwood Drive, Worcester, is £5.3m.

 

St Richard’s is an independent charity and is grateful for all donations to help it continue its work.

 

Find out more at www.strichards.org.uk

 

Sarah Dawes