14th Southport Guides smash fundraising target by completing Star Trekk walk for Queenscourt

The 14th Southport Guides have smashed their fundraising target by raising hundreds of pounds for Queenscourt Hospice. 

The Guides, who meet at St James’ Church in Birkdale, were among over 650 walkers taking part in the 2022 annual Star Trekk walk on Friday night. 

They were inspired by their Guide Leader, Lynn Deacon – the leader of the unit for the past 30 years – who tragically lost both her parents in 2020.  

She said: “As a team we’re up to just under £2,500 now, including Gift Aid – and we’d just like to say a huge thank you to all our supporters!

“And our leaders are SO proud of our Guides who sang most of the way round despite being soaked!”

The 10 to 14 year olds and their Guide Leaders braved the torrential weather conditions in great spirits as they set off from Southport Pleasureland on a three-hour, 10k walk through Southport town centre, up to Kew roundabout, past Queenscourt Hospice and Southport Hospital on Town Lane, through Birkdale Village and back to Pleasureland. 

After setting themselves a target of £390, they have so far managed to raise nearly £2,500 through their JustGiving page here:  https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/fourteenth-southport-guides

Dozens of well-wishers have supported their cause, with other people invited to add their donations. 

Lynn Deacon’s parents, Ann and Ed, were both cared for by Queenscourt Hospice before they sadly died exactly six months apart in 2020.

Lynn said: “We found out my Dad was terminally ill on a Tuesday afternoon in June 2019 and by the Thursday morning, we were all sitting in Queenscourt.

“We were in absolute shock and I remember a nurse sitting me down and saying, ‘We will look after you all now’ and that really stuck with me.

“Queenscourt certainly looked after all of us and it wasn’t just the medical care. They really want to understand and get to know their patients personally and asked my Dad tons of questions about who he was, his family, his favourite food, favourite TV programme, about his career… My Dad described Queenscourt as more like a second home than a treatment facility.”

In January 2020, Lynn’s mother Ann was also diagnosed terminally ill.

As well as supporting the family during such a difficult and overwhelming time, Queenscourt ensured that the couple would be together whilst they were being cared for.

Lynn said: “What was really surreal was as my Mum was brought into the hospice as an emergency, it was a day my Dad was due in for a planned admission too.

“My Mum and Dad ended up in Queenscourt together for a couple of nights. The hospice moved things around and found the biggest space possible to put their beds together. They were the last nights my parents spent next to each other.”

During her final few weeks, Lynn’s mother was unable to talk but communicated through writing and really appreciated the care that she received at Queenscourt.

Lynn said: “She was a nurse during her career, a very good nurse, with high standards.

“Though she was not able to talk at that point, Mum did write that the nurses at Queenscourt couldn’t do enough for her. She also said, ‘They’re very funny,’ and, ‘I wish I could speak to them.’

“With the support of the team at Queenscourt, my Mum rallied a little and that gave us just enough time for family and friendsto see and spend time with her and we were able to be there for Mum as much as possible.”

While Lynn has been fundraising to say ‘Thank You’ to Queenscourt, her Girl Guides took on the challenge to serve their local community. The Guides have six core programme themes – one of them is called ‘Take Action’, helping the community, and another theme is ‘Be Well’, which is about looking after their physical and mental health.

Lynn said: “All of the girls have heard about Queenscourt.

“Two of our Guides who took part have also had contact with Queenscourt through the care given to their Great-Grandparents and they have always remembered this. They have also helped the hospice this year themselves by making comfort bags for patients and their families.

“Another Guide’s Great-Grandparent was looked after by the ‘kind and caring’ Queenscourt nurses just last year.”

Writing on their Just Giving fundraising page the 14th Southport Guides say: “We have chosen to support Queenscourt Hospice by taking part in this year’s Star Trekk walk because as Guides we have promised to serve our community.

“We were surprised to hear that less than 20 per cent of the money needed to run Queenscourt comes from the government and therefore the hospice really needs donations and people to fundraise for them, so that they can carry on their work.”

For Queenscourt, the effects of Coronavirus have meant that many in-person fundraising events have had to be cancelled.  

Every single penny really does count, and by supporting Star Trekk, one of Queenscourt’s key fundraising events, you will be helping #teamqueenscourt to continue providing exceptional palliative care for local people across West Lancashire, Formby and Southport, when they need it the most.

To donate, please visit: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/fourteenth-southport-guides

Queenscourt Hospice Event Fundraiser Dianne Gillespie said: “We had a fantastic turnout for this annual event and even the typical British weather could not dampen the amazing atmosphere.

“This is the 16th year the event has been held and it was lovely to see family and friends gathering for the walk, some have been ‘trekking’ with us before and others were ‘trekking’ for the first time.

“We cannot thank everyone involved enough for coming together in this way to support their local hospice.”

• For more details about the work of Queenscourt Hospice please visit: queenscourt.org.uk

Do you have a story for Stand Up For Southport? Please message Andrew Brown via Facebook here or email me at: mediaandrewbrown@gmail.com