News story Archives - Page 5 of 91

Nicole asks the public to support this year’s Christmas Appeal

November 17, 2025 | 9:00am

For over 50 years, Moya Cole Hospice has been here for families across Greater Manchester, providing expert, compassionate care during the most difficult times in their lives.

This Christmas, while many are celebrating at home, hospice staff like me will be caring for patients and families who need us most.

We’re asking for your support to help us continue delivering the highest standard of care to those within our community.

It’s truly special to see a patient’s face light up when they receive their Christmas meal or enjoy a glass of their favourite tipple with loved ones. Our famous drinks trolley is always a highlight, bringing joy and comfort to the wards

Nicole Manley, Deputy Head of Clinical Services, Moya Cole Hospice

Your donation could help fund a nurse’s shift, improve our family room with new toys for children visiting loved ones, provide a two-hour rehabilitation session to help a patient with their mobility or simply bring peace and dignity to someone spending their last Christmas with us.

Your kindness and generosity will be felt in every moment of care we provide.

If you’d like to help us give the gift of care this Christmas, please visit www.moyacole.org.uk .

Sue takes on the Sahara dunes during her Overseas Trek

November 13, 2025 | 9:54am

Sue Mee says the friendships she made during her trek of the Sahara made the experience even more fulfilling.

Sue has been a Moya Cole Hospice supporter for years, ever since her mum was cared for at the hospice. She has been raising money for the hospice ever since as she likes to give back.

The Sahara Trek was offered as part of the Moya Cole Hospice 2025 Overseas Treks along with the Great Wall of China and the Camino de Santiago.

The Sahara trek was “achievable” according to Sue and is the reason she chose it.

“I think a lot of people think that these types of challenges are out of their budget, and overseas treks can seem a bit out of people’s reach,” Sue said.

I felt the Sahara trek wasn’t too far as with Mt Everest or Kilimanjaro, it was a bit more achievable, even though it was still quite a distance away

Sue Mee, Moya Cole Hospice Supporter

There were 25 people in Sue’s group in total with a large group from another hospice in the UK.

“The people I’ve met, we’ll be friends forever. I’ve even been invited to somebody’s wedding. Everybody got on and helped each other,” Sue said.

“If someone was struggling, everyone would help everybody. If you saw someone struggling with the walk one day you’d chat to them and it would help pass an hour.”

“We met on the plane as strangers and came back as friends,” she added.

According to Sue the weather was hot but manageable.

“It was about 30 degrees. We all had factor 50, hats and traditional head scarves. I like the heat so it didn’t bother me.

“There were plenty of breaks and nice lunch stops under the shade of a tree and we had siestas in the afternoon until it got cooler.

We didn’t really need our sleeping bags in the tent as it was quite warm. Many people slept on the sand dunes, under the stars, rather than in the tent. That was lovely

Sue Mee, Moya Cole Hospice Supporter

The campsite was set up for them prior to their arrival every night with the help of camels transporting their gear to the next location.

The trek started with a flight to Marrakech. The six day itinerary involved four days of trekking with a celebratory dinner on night five once the trekking was complete.

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.

Kathy will be bringing festive cheer to the Moya Cole Hospice ward this Christmas

November 12, 2025 | 8:30am

My name is Kathryn Edwards, and I’m a Health Care Assistant at Moya Cole Hospice.

Working on Christmas Day is always a privilege. So, this year I’ll be here at the hospice, caring for patients and their loved ones during what can be an incredibly emotional and difficult time.

It’s thanks to kind supporters like you that we can be there when people need us most. That’s why I’m asking you to support our Give the Gift of Care appeal this Christmas.

Your donation will help ensure that every patient at Moya Cole Hospice receives the same warmth, dignity, and compassion you would wish for your own loved ones – especially on what may be their final Christmas together

Kathryn Edwards, Healthcare Assistant, Moya Cole Hospice

We start the day early, helping patients to get ready so they can spend precious time with their loved ones. We do everything we can to make Christmas special – filled with love, comfort, and moments to cherish.

We also make it extra special for those of us working, with small gifts and festive treats to share during our breaks. I never mind missing Christmas at home – as being on the wards at Moya Cole Hospice is always an honour.

If you’d like to support our Give the Gift of Care appeal, please visit our website.

Wishing you a peaceful and joyful festive season.

Gwyneth is seeking recipes with stories for new cookbook in aid of Moya Cole Hospice

November 11, 2025 | 3:19pm

Gwyneth Roper is asking the community to put their MasterChef hats on and to send their best recipes to be featured in an upcoming cookbook in aid of Moya Cole Hospice.

The recipes can come from anyone, far and wide but they must have a story with them. Did you learn the recipe from a loved one? Is it your favourite meal your nan used to make when you were young? Any story counts as long as it comes with a recipe!

Gwyneth has started off by including a recipe called ‘Mommy Cake’, a sultana fruit loaf that Gwyneth’s brother used to ask for when he was in the Christie hospital receiving chemotherapy. The cake brought him some everyday normality, and he is now fit and healthy, enjoying ‘Mommy Cake’ at home.

The recipes can be savoury or sweet, starters, mains, or desserts. All you need to do is write down the recipe (including ingredients), take a lovely picture of your fine dish, and send it to Gwyneth at gwyneth.roper1@btinternet.com.

I’m also on the lookout for someone to write a foreword for the cookbook. I’ve even written a letter to the King! I plan on sending it to see if he or someone from his household would kindly write a foreword for our cookbook and the fantastic cause that it is going towards

Gwyneth Roper, Volunteer at Moya Cole Hospice

“I look forward to reading and trying all of these lovely recipes that I get sent in. I have volunteered at Moya Cole Hospice as a complementary therapist, and I see first-hand what a worthy cause the hospice is,” she added.

Even if you don’t have a recipe, but you know someone who can put together a mouth-watering dish, why not give them a nudge to have their recipe included amongst the other delectable dishes in Gwyneth’s cookbook?

For more information, please get in touch with Gwyneth at the email address above.

More information on publication will come down the line, but for now, get cooking!

Moya Cole Hospice Christmas Appeal 2025 is officially launched

November 10, 2025 | 8:00am

The 2025 Christmas Appeal has been launched at Moya Cole Hospice to support the provision of care throughout the festive period and beyond.

Christmas may be a joyous time, but for some, including those in our care, it can be difficult. Moya Cole Hospice will be there to support those in end-of-life care in our wards or in their homes. We will be there to support those accessing our out-patients services, and we will be there supporting our patients’ families and loved ones throughout the festive period.

We are asking the community to help us fund that care as we require £20,000 a day to keep our hospices at Heald Green and Little Hulton operational.

Nicole Manley, Deputy Head of Clinical Services at Moya Cole Hospice says even a small donation can go a long way.

We’re asking for your support to help us continue delivering the highest standard of care to those within our community. Your donation could help fund a nurse’s shift, improve our family room with new toys for children visiting loved ones, provide a two-hour rehabilitation session to help a patient with their mobility, or simply bring peace and dignity to someone spending their last Christmas with us

Nicole Manley, Deputy Head of Clinical Services, Moya Cole Hospice

Kathryn Edwards, a healthcare assistant at the hospice will be providing care to our patients in our wards on Christmas Day.

We start the day early, helping patients to get ready so they can spend precious time with their loved ones. We do everything we can to make Christmas special – filled with love, comfort, and moments to cherish

Kathryn Edwards, Healthcare Assistant, Moya Cole Hospice

This festive season, give the gift of care to make this Christmas a little brighter for our patients and their families.

For more information or to make a donation, please click here.

Rachel treks the Great Wall of China for Moya Cole Hospice

November 5, 2025 | 10:30am

Photos by Rachel

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.

The hospice provided us with a lot of information as well. We had a WhatsApp group with other people who were doing treks

Rachel Johnson, Moya Cole Hospice Supporter

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.

Moya Cole Hospice volunteer complimentary therapist wins prestigious Cavell Star Award

November 4, 2025 | 12:43pm

Volunteer at Moya Cole Hospice, Peter Mackereth has been awarded the Cavell Star Award for his work incorporating complementary therapies into cancer and hospice care.

Edith Cavell, whom the awards are named after was a British nurse during the First World War. She is celebrated for saving the lives of soldiers from both sides and for helping over 200 Allied soldiers escape from German-occupied Belgium.

Peter was surprised with the award in a meeting at Moya Cole Hospice on Thursday, October 30.

Peter and Ann Carter, a former Complementary Therapy Coordinator at Moya Cole Hospice were at the hospice discussing their new publication: ‘Guidelines for Complementary Therapies Practice in Supportive and Palliative Care’ on behalf of the National Association of Complementary Therapists in Supportive and Palliative Care.

This is a new version of the ‘Guidelines’ originally authored by Marianne Tavares, published in 2003.

Peter and Ann have, according to them, 60 years of practice in complementary therapies between them. They have previously written books together.

Peter said it was a wonderful surprise to receive the Cavell Star Award at Moya Cole Hospice.

Edith Cavell has always been a hero of mine for what she did for nursing and how she stood up and helped people. I love the work that I do and the work that I do here at Moya Cole Hospice. I’m still a registered nurse and I’m still engaged in research and teaching. It’s so wonderful to receive this award

Peter Mackereth, Moya Cole Hospice Volunteer

Chief Executive of Moya Cole Hospice, Rachel McMillan presented Peter with the award.

“I really value complementary therapy, certainly in hospice care. It gives me great pleasure to be able to award Peter the prestigious Cavell Star Award. This is an extremely prestigious award within the nursing profession. Peter has won this award because of his contribution to complementary therapy both in the NHS and hospice care,” Rachel said.

Peter started nurse training in 1976 and has worked in intensive care, neurology and oncology. He has an MA in Medical Ethics and has completed a PhD study investigating reflexology and progressive muscle relaxation training for people living with multiple sclerosis. Peter trained in acupuncture, hypnotherapy, aromatherapy massage and reflexology. Currently, Peter teaches on the Digital Oncology programmes for Student Nurses at The Christie. Peter has authored numerous papers and edited 7 books. He speaks nationally and internationally on complementary therapies.

For over 15 years, Peter led the Complementary Health and Wellbeing Team at The Christie. Peter’s recent studies have evaluated interventions for needle anxiety, cancer related fatigue, smoking cessation, peripheral neuropathy and breathlessness. Peter joined Moya Cole Hospice in 2016 as a volunteer therapist after taking retirement – this was interrupted briefly when he returned to practice as a vaccination nurse during the COVID pandemic.

To learn more about Peter and Ann’s new publication ‘Guidelines for Complementary Therapies Practice in Supportive and Palliative Care’, click here.

Geraldine wins Moya Cole Hospice raffle twice totaling £10,000

October 29, 2025 | 11:47am

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.

We always buy the tickets for the raffle because we want to support the hospice because it’s such a good cause. My husband’s mum was cared for in the hospice. We never expected to win anything

Geraldine Manning, Two Time Raffle Winner

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.

Theme: News story