20 Dec 2023 Community

The Kirkwood Community Fundraisers 2023 review

The Kirkwood fundraising team has accumulated thousands of pounds across 2023. Those funds have been vital in our efforts to care for hundreds of people in Kirklees this year.

We continue to care for hundreds of people across the Kirklees community with a life limiting illness. We can only do this with people’s very generous donations towards The Kirkwood, your donations make a huge difference with every penny going back into patient care. If you would like to make a donation click the link HERE and help us to support life. 

The fundraising team have had many great moments in 2023 and have attended some spectacular events. We spoke to Julia Owen, our fabulous community fundraising officer to review the last 12 months. 

She commented: “2023 was another massively busy year for The Kirkwood Community Fundraisers. 

“We are really grateful for the support that we receive, and we really do try to meet with as many of the incredible individuals, groups and organisations as possible who are fundraising for us to say thank you personally. 

“We’ve had such amazing support from the Kirklees community throughout the pandemic and we know that many people are now affected by the cost of living crisis. 

“We are really humbled by the support that we have received from new and existing supporters. I’d like to say a huge thank you to anyone who has donated this year, we can’t do this without you.” 

Reflecting on her favourite moment in 2023, Julia added: “We introduced Woody the talking bear in 2023 to support some of our fundraising activities out in the community.  

“Just seeing people’s faces light up and smile when we walk about in our villages and towns with a rather large and chubby bear, particularly when we take him into schools to introduce him to the children; their reactions are just amazing.  

“We know that many of our supporters have experienced loss and they want to support us by giving back in memory of that person. When it’s appropriate, Woody helps us to keep the fun element of fundraising.” 

Looking ahead to 2024 the fundraising team are hoping to get as many people as possible involved in challenges. Whether they are at home here in England or the challenges are abroad our community fundraisers would like to see you get involved in any way you can.

Julia commented: “For 2024, we’ve introduced some new challenge events to sit alongside our popular challenges.

“We’re trying to offer a package of challenges that appeal to all. This year we’ve included a swimming challenge and hopefully, fingers crossed, a firewalk.   

“Of course our intrepid challengers are welcome to do their own challenges and we’re here to support them and help them achieve their fundraising targets.

“We are now offering two overseas challenges in November 2024 – Machu Picchu, which is incorporating a hospice project in Peru and an Iceland Trek.  

“Plus, we’ve got a further two trekking challenges to Camino de Santiago in Spain and the Sahara Desert in 2025. We’re hoping that by offering these we get a good response. 

“On behalf of The Kirkwood Community team we'd like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all of our supporters, you’re just amazing and we love working with you.”