ALMOST 400 people took to the Pentland Hills in Edinburgh yesterday to raise hundreds of thousands of pounds for the rebuild of St Columba’s Hospice, which provides palliative care for those suffering from advanced stage illnesses.
The St Columba’s Hospice Great Pentlands Push, which is sponsored by Franklin Templeton Investments is now in its second year and has raised £160,000 to date for the St Columba’s Hospice.
Organisers are hopeful that yesterday’s event will increase this to £200,000.
Anton Aitken from Edinburgh was first over the line completing the 24.5 mile Gold Route in 4 hours 40 minutes; Sara Jeanne Gulley also from Edinburgh was first over the line in the Silver Route completing the 18-mile course in six hours; and Luke Robertson completed the 13-mile Bronze Route in three hours.
Ian Philp and his wife, Gillian, took part in the Gold Route, as part of their own campaign to complete four major challenges during the year in support of St Columba’s Hospice, in memory of Ian’s first wife Marjory Cameron.
Mr Philip said: “We are undertaking four physical challenges for St Columba’s Hospice because they are amazing people who do wonderful work.”
Lesley Christie, fundraising director, St Columba’s Hospice, said: “All funds raised at this event will go towards our Rebuild Project and to helping our patients live as actively as possible until the end of their lives, however long that may be, giving them the dignity, privacy and respect that they deserve.
“The funds raised will also help us to care for families and friends, supporting them through the difficult times that they may face. It was wonderful to see so many participants and supporters in the Pentlands today.”
David Fox Pitt, director of WildFox Events, said: “This event will provide a legacy for many years to come, giving much needed support for the wonderful work that St Columba’s Hospice does for the community in Edinburgh and the Lothians and we are delighted to be part of that legacy.”
Lead Sponsors, Franklin Templeton Investments UK country head, Ian Wilkins, said: “After the trememdous success of last year’s inaugural event, Franklin Templeton is delighted, once again, to support the local community in the St Columba’s Great Pentlands Push.
“For decades, this charity has provided vital care for patients in Edinburgh and the Lothians suffering from cancer and other terminal illnesses.
“This exhilarating event offers people the chance to raise funds for this very important cause, but also to take in some wonderful Scottish countryside.”
There is an ‘Early Bird’ discount for anyone who signs up now for next year’s Great Pentlands Push to be held on 20 September 2014.
For more info check out www.greatpentlandspush.com.
Check out the stunning photos from the day on the WildFox Flikr site.
For more information on the event and details on how to enter, log onto the official website www.greatpentlandspush.com.
ENDS
For further information please contact Jen Nash, Panache Communications tel. 07971 466 220 or email jen@panachecommunications.co.uk
Notes to editors:
The Great Pentlands Push 2014
Next year’s Push is scheduled for Saturday 20 September 2014. To find out more and register for the event, log onto www.greatpentlandspush.com.
St Columba’s Hospice
St Columba’s has been caring for patients in Edinburgh and the Lothians with cancer and other terminal illnesses since 1977. Our Day Hospice, In-Patient Unit and our Community Nursing Team are all vital resources, providing specialist care to over 1,000 people and their families each year.
St Columba’s is a charity, not part of the NHS. It costs us over £7m each year to provide our services and we rely on donations to find 67 per cent of that money. All of our services are given completely free of charge to all those who need our care and support.
We are currently undertaking the biggest project since the founding of the Hospice – a complete rebuild of our hospice facilities to bring 21st century palliative care to all who need it. For more information about St Columba’s Hospice please see www.stcolumbashospice.org.uk.
All of the money raised will go towards creating a fantastic new St Columba’s Hospice that will provide specialist care designed to improve the lives of those living with a terminal illness.
Franklin Templeton Investments
Franklin Templeton Investments, one of the world’s largest fund managers, with assets of over USD 727 billion (EUR 541 billion), recognised for its global investment expertise and extensively diversified product line-up.
Franklin Templeton brings international investors a wide choice when making investment decisions, ranging from global to country-specific funds, growth to value investment styles and traditional to sophisticated asset classes.
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