Thank you so much for being here for us in 2024. The new year is fast approaching, but as 2024 draws to a close, we wanted to take a look back and reflect on some of the special moments from across the year.
With a national hospice funding crisis, this year has been exceptionally difficult for hospices like ours. We spend close to £10 million every year providing our specialist services and, with just 18% of our income funded by the Government, we rely heavily on donations and the generosity of our community to help us deliver our care.
Despite the ongoing challenges, you’ve continued to rally behind us and offer your unwavering commitment, compassion, and support. Thank you so much.
In January, we kicked off the year with our record-breaking TreeCycle , collecting and recycling an astounding 3,833 Christmas trees!
Thanks to your generosity and support, we also raised a ‘tree-mendous’ £81,030 to help us continue to care for local people, and their loved ones, living with a terminal illness. In 2025, we’re aiming even higher! With over 1,000 trees already booked, we’re confident we can break records once again. Book your tree collection here.
In February, our lottery rollover reached its highest EVER amount of £20,000. One lucky player walked away with the amazing sum, turning their dreams into reality!
Throughout 2023-24, lottery players helped us to raise over £800,000 to support local people, and their loved ones, living with a terminal illness. Feeling lucky? Why not sign up to play our lottery in 2025!
In a heartfelt tribute to his dad, cycling enthusiast Sam Coxon proudly supported our 10th anniversary of Cycle St Giles, which helped raise over £60,000!
Sam said: “At 31 years old, I’d never given St Giles Hospice much thought, until we had to say goodbye to my dad.
“We can’t thank St Giles enough for everything they did. They played a massive role in making my dad’s last few weeks as comfortable as possible, something we’ll always be grateful for.” Read Sam’s story here.
In April, we proudly opened a new charity shop in Bilston. This was a particularly exciting milestone for us, as it marked our return to the Bilston high street after having a store there previously.
We’re investing in our stores to help us raise more funds for the patients, and loved ones, we support. With the opening of our new store in Bilston and five refurbishments across Walmley, Lichfield Community & Home, Swadlincote, Ashby Bookshop and Kingstanding, we’re revitalising our high street presence.
Our beautiful Celebrate Lives Lived gardens opened once again in May, with hundreds of Gerbera flower pegs dedicated to loved ones. The orange Gerbera is the perfect tribute to someone special, and the event raised over £21,000 to help us continue to provide our vital care services.
As football fever swept the nation, hundreds of you joined us for our Euros-themed Keepy-Up Challenge. Thanks to your incredible support and enthusiasm, we were able to raise an amazing £8,178!
Oli Duffy raised £320 for St Giles Hospice in honour of the care his grandad, Willis, received. Olly said: “I think my grandad would be very proud of me for fundraising for St Giles and raising awareness of the hospice.” Watch Oli’s story here.
After months of hard work and preparation, July marked a truly special moment for us as we finally unveiled our March of the Elephants art trail to our local community. This incredible event wouldn’t have been possible without our fantastic sponsors, whose generous support helped make the trail a reality and such a memorable experience for our community.
Over 70 elephants stomped into the streets of Lichfield, Tamworth and Sutton Coldfield for 10 weeks between July and September. Over 2,000 trail-goers downloaded our app, collecting over 72,000 sculptures and walking a whopping 4,685 miles in the process!
Lee said: “It meant the world to me to have all my friends and family together on the canal. Being surrounded by so much love and laughter made it a day I’ll never forget. The peace and joy I felt on that boat will stay with me always.”
In September, as our March of the Elephants trail came to a close, it was time to find new homes for our beloved elephants at our auction.
Held in the iconic Lichfield Cathedral, the event saw around 200 people attend in person, with over 2,000 more joining us online from around the world. The event was a resounding success, raising an incredible £125,000 for St Giles Hospice.
In October, we hosted our first ever Firewalk event, where over 60 participants faced the heat and walked barefoot across hot coals, all in support of St Giles.
Our Firewalk raised an incredible £25,000! A huge thank you to everyone who took part and supported this fiery challenge.
In November, Sean Collins bravely shared his story as part of our Urgent Appeal to secure the future of St Giles. His powerful testimony shed light on the crucial care we provide and the financial challenges we currently face.
Our Chief Executive Officer, Elinor Eustace, also appeared on Good Morning Britain with Susanna Reid to highlight the critical need for hospice funding. This was followed by an ITV documentary, ‘Keeping Care Alive’, which brought national attention to the urgent issues facing hospices across the country.
In December, our colleagues created a heart warming moment by joining our patients, and their loved ones, on our Inpatient Unit for a festive singalong.
Our patients and their loved ones were treated to some Christmas carols and songs, as Jane Morris, Senior Family Support Worker, played the keyboard. It was a lovely festive morning, with some special memories made.Watch the performance here.
Also this month, we welcomed a funding package into hospices across the UK – a substantial £100 million boost. We warmly welcome this announcement, which comes at a crucial time for St Giles, easing immediate financial pressures. This will allow us to focus on what we do best – providing outstanding care to patients, and their loved ones, when they need us most.
Whether you’ve donated your time, funding, or both, your incredible support has allowed us to continue caring for local people, and their loved ones, when they need us most. Thank you for being a valued part of #TeamStGiles throughout 2024.
Your generosity has never been more important. Together, we can help secure the future of St Giles and ensure we can continue to provide care to those who need us.
Wishing you all a peaceful new year from all at St Giles Hospice.
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