News

The North Devon Gazette’s much-loved light Up a Life appeal was launched to an audience of thousands this year.

It was marked with the switch-on of a special illuminated star in Barnstaple Square during the town’s Christmas lights celebrations on Sunday.

Now in its 21st year, the appeal has become a Christmas tradition to enable people to remember a loved one and help raise money for North Devon Hospice and Children’s Hospice South West.

The charities host a series of services of remembrance across North Devon through December.

It’s not often solicitors and chartered surveyors square up to each other for a fight but that’s what happened in the annual conker competition in Plymouth, organised by wealth management company Brewin Dolphin.

Emotions were running high and the atmosphere was tense as Plymouth-based surveyors Monk & Partners prepared to do battle with legal experts Gard & Co in the finals. Conker struck conker until, for the second year in succession, Monk & Partners again proved invincible.

Paul completed the challenge in August which involved riding wild horses across 1,000km of Mongolian steppe. The ride took him 9 days and he experienced all types of weather and terrain along the way.

Croyde Ocean Triathlon and Exmoor Open Swim raise an incredible £9634.47 for Children's Hospice South West

Organisers of the Croyde Ocean Triathlon and Exmoor Open Water Swim were delighted to present Children’s Hospice South West (CHSW) with a cheque for £9634.47 raised from participants of the 2017 events.

Josh Allan, Community Fundraiser at CHSW’s Little Bridge House hospice in Fremington said:

Stephanie Chapman from Perranporth has taken on the Yorkshire 3 Peaks Challenge as well as the London Walking Marathon all to help raise funds for Children’s Hospice South West (CHSW).

Stephanie completed the Yorkshire 3 Peaks Challenge over the 1 – 3 September and then just three weeks later on 23 September completed the London Marathon Walk, 26.2 miles around the capital city whilst also managing to raise £3490 for CHSW.

Children’s Hospice South West (CHSW) would like to thank Truscotts of Barnstaple for donating the use of a van for its Santas on the Run events in the area this December.

Santas on the Run is an event for the whole family and the charity has runs in Bideford, Holsworthy and Tiverton.  Jayne Jarrett, events fundraiser for CHSW said:

‘This is such a kind donation, we have so much that we need to carry to these events – including several hundred Santa suits! – and the van will be such a help to our team.’

A team of 5 from Rick Stein’s St Petroc’s Bistro in Padstow recently took part in the Cornish Cider Run and have raised £727.50 for Children’s Hospice South West (CHSW) through doing so.

The Rick Stein’s team have been supporting CHSW with various fundraising events and the Boconnoc Cornish Cider Run was the chosen fundraising event that Samantha Bolwell, Susie Esor, Larissa Porter, Jamie Porter & Ash Gains wanted to take part in to do their bit for the charity.

Children’s Hospice South West (CHSW) is excited to announce it has opened a new shop in East Walk, Yate on Wednesday 8^th November 

The new shop has something for everyone with a range of goods on offer, including quality women’s, men’s and children’s clothing and accessories, as well as children’s toys and games, books, media and bric-a-brac.

CHSW’s Head of Retail, Chris Judd said:

Back in May three local men with an interest in fitness took part in an ultratriathlon in Bristol to raise funds for Charlton Farm, which is celebrating its 10^th Birthday this year.

Named ‘The Bristol Brutal’, the originator, Paul Dennett from Emersons Green said,

It’s become a much-loved festive tradition; hundreds of bikers dressed in Santa suits, their motorbikes adorned with festive paraphernalia, paying a visit to Children’s Hospice South West’s Little Bridge House hospice near Barnstaple. This year the ride is taking place on Saturday 2 December, with bikers coming from all over the county.