Theme: Fundraising

Christmas is only around the corner! And I’m sure as the nation is starting to put up their festive trees, there is always the lingering thought in the back of the head, wondering, “how am I going to get rid of this in the new year?”. 

Fear not, as Moya Cole Hospice is once again partnering with national charity Just Helping to collect and recycle Christmas trees from residences across parts of Greater Manchester! 

Those who wish to have their real Christmas tree recycled by our team are able to register, here for collection dates in the new year. Moya Cole Hospice will remove your tree in exchange for a donation. 

All trees are collected by a team of volunteers, then chipped and used for pathways and forest management at Wythenshawe Park.  

The January 2025 Manchester collection raised £117,000 for Greater Manchester charities, with net proceeds distributed to Moya Cole Hospice, Francis House Children’s Hospice, Just Helping, and other local causes. 

Georgia Vacher, Manchester Collection Lead for Just Helping, said: 

“I’m so excited for this year’s Manchester Treecycle Appeal! Every year, our amazing volunteers and supporters come together to make a real difference. Last year we collected 5309 trees and raised £117,000 for Moya Cole Hospice and Francis House Children’s Hospice, and 2026 is set to be our best year yet!  

Corporate Fundraiser at Moya Cole Hospice, Gayle Shaw is looking forward to the Christmas tree collection campaign. 

Rachel Johnson, came across the Moya Cole Hospice Overseas Treks on social media as the date stuck out to her as it was the anniversary of her dad’s death. 

Even though her dad did not die at the hospice, Rachel knew that something was drawing her to the trek; it had been a lifelong goal of hers to walk the Great Wall of China. 

She attended the information evening and convinced her friend to go with her. 

“I felt the Great Wall of China trek was a really nice way to honour my dad, we flew out on his 30th anniversary,” Rachel said. 

Rachel mentioned the company that runs the treks, Global Adventures Challenges were “amazing”. 

“They provide you with a lot of support, a lot of information. They tell you everything that you need,” she said. 

According to Rachel, the overall Great Wall of China trek was “hard”, but with the right training, it is very manageable. 

“It was absolutely outstanding, the views that you see and the history of being on the wall. It’s hard to put into words, it’s awe-inspiring when you are there.” 

In total, Rachel trekked for five days. The first day is a “warm-up day” but is still quite challenging. According to Rachel, the second day was the hardest, the third was quite tough, and it was a little easier on the fourth, with the fifth being a “warm-down trek”. 

“In the evenings, we were all so exhausted that when we got back to the hotel, it was generally dinner and off to bed. The last day, we had a full day around Beijing,” she said. 

“I would 100% recommend everyone to take on a trek such as the Great Wall of China. There is a theory in China that someone who has never trekked the Great Wall will never be wise,” Rachel added. 

In 2026, Moya Cole Hospice is offering two Overseas Treks. The Inca Trail Trek and the Spanish Three Peaks. More information on these treks can be found here. 

An information evening on the 2026 Overseas Treks will be held on November 18th at 6.30pm in Moya Cole Hospice, Heald Green. For more information or to express your interest in attending, please click here. 

Geraldine Manning has won a Moya Cole Hospice raffle for the second time, having initially won the Winter Raffle in 2022 and is now the latest winner of the Summer Raffle. 

Geraldine says she is “over the moon” with the win and never saw the first win coming, let alone the second. She has now won a total of £10,000 through the hospice. 

“I just can’t believe it. I got a phone call a few weeks ago and I’m still in shock. The most I ever won before the raffles was winning a pack of Jaffa Cakes. To win twice like this is just unbelievable,” Geraldine said. 

“My husband bought the tickets as well, but he hasn’t had any luck yet. They told me I had won so I went into the hospice to collect the cheque. 

Geraldine also donated some of the money back to the hospice following her first and second wins. 

“I said to Frank, my husband, I’m not entering it again. Then I thought, I will enter it again, of course, it’s going to a good cause. 

“I’m getting a new bathroom, and I’ve just gotten kitchen doors in as well. So the money has all gone to help me with that,” Geraldine added. 

Will you help us this year by entering the Winter Raffle?    

You can enter online by clicking here.