A BIG thank you to everyone who helped make The Hospice of St Francis 40th Birthday Garden Party such a fantastic occasion! An additional thank you to Ashridge House, and to BP Sanders for sponsoring the event too!
On Sunday 23rd, a crowd of 5,000 families and friends came together at Ashridge House near Berkhamsted for its annual Garden Party, this year celebrating 40 years of care for people in West Hertfordshire and South Buckinghamshire.
Attractions included a wide variety of quality retail stalls, activities and entertainment for children, live music throughout the afternoon from the Jolly Jazzers and the Ukie Toones, a variety of refreshments including cream teas and homemade cakes, Pimms, a licensed bar courtesy of Tring Brewery, locally produced hot food and ice cream.
Sarah and Martin Pugh from Great Gaddesden, attended with their two children Pippa 2, and Mia 4 months, and spoke fondly of their family afternoon out, “We’ve been coming for the past 3 years and we have thoroughly enjoyed it. Mia was especially pleased with the ice cream and Hook a Duck!”
An amazing total of over £50,000, (and counting) was raised for the Hospice, which will continue to help the Hospice support more than 2,000 local people to live their precious lives well, in the Hospice itself and in people’s homes.
Bob Hogg, 70, from Hemel Hempstead, has attended with his family for the past five years. He remarks, “The music and the layout was fantastic. We brought a picnic this year, it was all so pleasurable.” He continues, “The reason why we support this great event is because my daughter’s mother in law passed away at the Hospice.”
Sam Healy, a Hospice nurse who helped volunteer at the event providing guests with information, added, “I’ve worked at the Hospice for two years now, it is fantastic. I really wish I’d worked here years ago!”
“In my first week I told my family it was like everyone had been handpicked – everyone is so fantastic.”
If you have missed out on the Garden Party but still want to get involved with the fortieth celebrations, please check out our other fundraising activities and events by visiting: www.stfrancis.org.uk. If you also have a special memory of the Hospice you would like to share, do get in touch through our birthday page: www.stfrancis.org.uk/40/precious-memories as we would love to hear from you. -
