Harrogate estate agents take on Yorkshire Three Peaks for charity 

Harrogate estate agents, Feather Smailes Scales (FSS) are hoping to raise more money for Maggie’s Centres by climbing the Yorkshire Three Peaks.

The team at FSS said they wanted to support a charity that helps those undergoing treatment.

Maggie’s Centres builds centres next to NHS hospitals to offer professional support for anything from treatment side effects to money worries.

The FSS team will take on the 24-mile hiking challenge tomorrow.

Partner and auctioneer Richard Smailes said:

“Last November, I was incredibly touched by the enthusiasm of those supporting the charity. Those who were affected by cancer planned to carry out incredible tasks to raise money for a cause that supports those suffering take back control when cancer turns their life upside down.”

To donate click here.

Networking event for SMEs at Harrogate Convention Centre this month

Harrogate Borough Council and SME Growth Managers have organised an event for Harrogate district businesses to share ideas and solve problems.

The event, on April 21, is aimed at local SMEs, small to middle-sized businesses.

‘Five tips to sales and marketing effectiveness in challenging times’ will hear from numerous business owners about the impact of marketing.

The event lasts 90 minutes and is free to attend. It will highlight funding opportunities and give business owners the chance to meet with similar, like-minded businesses.

The event begins at 9.30am at Co-Lab Harrogate, through entrance three at the convention centre.

Harrogate Convention Centre

Coppice Valley Primary School is hoping to raise £10,000 to improve its library and provide a space for students to be inspired by books.

The current space inside the Harrogate school is more than 20 years old and the second-hand shelving is beginning to collapse.

The plan is to use the funds to completely redesign the space with new storage, books and floor mats.

Ms Emma Meadus, headteacher, said the school set up a covid-safe book swap outside during the pandemic and because of that many books weren’t returned or were returned in poor condition.

The school wants to improve its current library.

The school has had a quote from a design company of £8,800. Any remaining donations will be used to buy new books.

Ms Meadus said:

“It’s been a make-shift, make-do area and the books are in need of an upgrade. We knew it needed to be better for our kids, we have a lot of catch-up learning to do after the pandemic and we want a beautiful space for the kids to be inspired.”

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The school is celebrating its 50th anniversary in September and hopes the library will be a legacy project.

Although the target is £10,000, the school wants to raise £20,000 over the next two years it so it can build another library for younger children in a separate area of the school.

To support the school’s appeal, click here.

Reminders of the desperate plight of the embattled people of Ukraine have been evident across Ripon in recent days.

From the Rotary Club of Ripon collection at a bustling Market Place, to the contemplative silence of churches, there have been opportunities for residents to provide financial support, pray, or both.

On Rotary Way, customers at the Marks & Spencer food store are being invited to make a donation when they pay for their shopping. Similar collections are being held at other Ripon shops and businesses

Further down Rotary Way, an iconic image from another war provides a simple and moving message of support for passing motorists, cyclists and pedestrians.

The silhouette of the First World War soldier and his sweetheart has had the blue and yellow ribbons of Ukraine added along with a posy of flowers of the same colours.

The Our Lady of Fountains Altar at St Wilfrid’s Catholic Church, where The Pope’s prayer for peace can be seen

At St Wilfrid’s Catholic Church on Coltsgate Hill, the altar of Our Lady of Fountains is decked in yellow and blue. The altar also displays the prayer for peace of Pope Francis.

The altar was bequeathed to the church by the family of the 1st Marquess of Ripon, a man known for his kindness and compassion, who died in 1909.

The Mayor of Ripon, Councillor Eamon Parkin and his consort Nigel Guy (right), are pictured with Ali Edwards (centre) her partner Lizzie, and some of the 40-plus people who attended the fundraising event

Ripon’s Lewis Edwards, who escaped Kyiv late last month with his Ukrainian partner Tanya Bogdanovska and is now in Slovakia, spoke via his mobile phone to family, friends and supporters gathered at a fundraising event held at the Magdalens pub on Saturday evening.

Mr Edwards told attendees at the packed venue, how former Harrogate soldier Mike Heelan had arrived safely in Slovakia to lend an extra experienced pair of hands to the 10-strong team, which is helping refugees seeking sanctuary in countries across Europe.

The event, hosted by the pub’s owners, the Mayor of Ripon Councillor Eamon Parkin and his consort Nigel Guy, raised more than £1,300, which be will added to £16,000-plus already raised through donations to the gofundme page set up by Mr Edwards’ family.

Ripon Runners made up for lost time when the Lightwater Valley 10k returned at the weekend after two years off because of covid.

Ted Leahy completed the testing course in 35 minutes and 43 seconds to win the men’s open race, 19 seconds ahead of Ripon Runners clubmate Jamie Baker.

Jamie was outright second in the race and also won the men’s seniors event in a time of 36.02, almost five and a half minutes ahead of the second-placed senior runner.

Ted Leahy, winner of the men’s race and Emily Abbey, who won the women’s race

Other winners from the club, included Ian Harrison in the male veterans 40 race and Lenny Lennox who was the first male veteran over 60 to cross the finishing line.

The outright winner of the women’s race was Emily Abbey of Swaledale Runners in a time of 44 minutes and.37 seconds.

Morag McDowall and Lucy Philpott capped an outstanding day for Ripon Runners by winning the female veterans 55-years old and female veterans seniors categories respectively.

A total of 136 runners completed the race and many more, including junior runners, took part in the 3k event.

The other winner was North Stainley Primary School, which raised much-needed funds from the entry fees paid by runners.

The annual race, over an undulating multi-terrain route, is organised by the charity Friends of North Stainley School and covers a course that  passes through the Lightwater estate and the surrounding countryside.

Money raised contributes towards the cost of school trips, technology for pupils, music lessons and sporting activities.

North Stainley Primary School opened in 1871 and is still based in its original building, close to the village church of St Mary’s.

All photographs provided by Tyler Parker Photography.

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Four friends who worked together as teachers have raised almost £2,500 in memory of a former colleague who died of cancer.

Dee Oultram was helped by The Sir Robert Ogden Macmillan Centre in Harrogate and Saint Michael’s Hospice in Harrogate in her final days. She died aged 52 on January 1 this year.

Dee had intended to complete the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge with Paula Conroy, Laura Hunt, Fiona Laycock and Steph Cargill to raise money for the two organisations.

The five women taught together at St Mary’s Catholic Primary School in Knaresborough.

The challenge involves reaching the peaks of Pen-y-ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough in under 12 hours.

The women had to postpone their attempt twice due to covid and Dee died before it could be completed.

Her friends decided to carry on and fulfil the quest to help the organisations that did so much to help Dee and last weekend completed the challenge.

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Ms Conroy said Dee was with them in spirit throughout the day. She added.

“It took us 11 hours to complete the 40 kilometres and around 55,000 steps.

“But every penny donated was worth every single step to go towards helping beautiful people through various stages of their battle with cancer!

“We laughed and we cried, there were ups and there were downs.”

Main pic: (from left) Laura Hunt, Paula Conroy, Steph Cargill and Fiona Laycock on Whernside during the challenge.

After two year’s off because of covid restrictions, a major fundraising race day is back on track.

The Lightwater Valley 10K and 3K Challenges, organised by Friends of North Stainley School (FONSS), will take place on Saturday March 12.

With the number of runners limited to 500, would-be entrants are being asked to book their place as soon as possible.

Places can be purchased in advance from Race Best on https://racebest.com/races/g4zhe The fee is £15 for affiliated and £17 for unaffiliated runners.

The event, covering an undulating multi-terrain route that passes through the Lightwater estate and into the surrounding countryside, will raise much-needed funds for the village school.

North Stainley Primary School opened in 1871 and is still based in its original building, close to the village church of St Mary’s.

The FONSS are the fundraising arm and use funds to contribute towards school trips, technology for pupils, music lessons and sporting activities.

Headteacher Louise Wallen, said:

“We are delighted to have the race up and running after what has been a challenging couple of years when we have been largely unable to fundraise.”

“It’s a fabulous community project, and a great day out for all the family.”

Organisers would like to hear from anyone willing to help on the day by offering their services as marshals. Contact can be made via admin@northstainley.n-yorks.sch.uk

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Rudding Park Hotel in Harrogate is launching a 10km multi-terrain race to raise money for the Queen’s platinum jubilee initiative to plant more trees.

The Rudding ParkRace, as it will be known, will take participants through 300 acres of parkland.

Profits from the race will be donated to The Queen’s Green Canopy, an initiative that encourages people to plant a tree in honour of the jubilee.

The race will be held on Tuesday, May 10 and the 18th century hotel will act as a backdrop for the finish line.

Simon Mackaness, owner of Rudding Park, said:

A Harrogate nurse has pledged to game non-stop for 24 hours to raise money for Medecins Sans Frontieres, a charity also known as Doctors Without Borders.

Andy Masters will start his gameathon at 10am next Saturday, February 5, and hopes to raise £1,000 for the medical charity.

Mr Masters has worked as a nurse for 30 years and began working at Harrogate District Hospital seven years ago.

The charity offers medical assistance in areas affected by conflict, epidemics and natural disasters. Mr Masters said he’s known doctors who have worked with the charity and seen first hand how necessary its help is.

Mr Masters said:

“It’s a highly respected charity and they go and help those in real need in areas others don’t. I just want to do a little bit to help them.

“Last time I raised over £1,000 so if we can get close to that it would be great, but anything is amazing.”

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He is a keen gamer and said he will switch between multiple games to help keep him awake. The whole event will be streamed on his Youtube and Twitch accounts.

To donate, click here.

The Children’s Society is going to receive a late Christmas present from the people of Pateley Bridge.

A Christmas Eve Christingle service has raised money for the charity for more than 30 years. It was postponed last year due to covid but has been rearranged for Wednesday evening, to coincide with the feast of Candlemas.

Organiser Joyce Liggins told the Stray Ferret:

“We were determined that the society, which does incredible work to help young people, would not miss out and holding the Christingle on Candlemas seemed highly appropriate.”

The 6pm service at the Parish Church of St Cuthbert will not include Christmas carols, but there will be a Christingle song and attendees will be given a Christingle kit as they arrive, which will be made up during the service and the candles lit.

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Ms Liggins added:

“We hope that people will come along and support this service and the society, which will benefit from donations.”

Those unable to attend can still donate through a JustGiving page.

Since 1968, Christingle services have been held across the UK to raise money for the society, which helps vulnerable young people.

The Christingle tradition has, like the bringing of an evergreen tree into a house, its roots in Germany and dates back to the 18th century, when it was introduced by Moravian Bishop Johannes de Watteville.

Ripon Cathedral will play host to a concert this coming weekend to raise money and awareness for a local mental health charity.

Wellspring Therapy and Training, which is based in Starbeck, provides affordable counselling to people suffering from mental illness.

Harrogate concert pianist Julian Saphir and soprano Eleanore Cockerham, a former member of internationally-acclaimed singing group VOCES8, will star in the November 12 concert, which is called A Night to Remember.

They will be joined by local choirs and performers, including Nidd Chorale, Unity Voices, Harrogate Theatre Choir, and St Aidan’s School Chamber Choir.

The concert also aims to raise awareness by exploring themes of memory and thanksgiving.

Concert Co-ordinator, David Moon, said:

“This event is a wonderful opportunity to explore and experience the power music has on our mood and raise money for Wellspring, which is providing a vital wellbeing service in our local community.”

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Referrals to Wellspring shot up during covid, forcing the charity to temporarily suspend its waiting list. Operations have now returned to normal and the charity has supported over 700 people in the last year.

Sarah James, therapeutic lead for the charity, said:

“Our counsellors are frequently working with adults who present with depression, anxiety, trauma, loss, relationship issues, low self-esteem, emotional abuse, loss of confidence and stress. Many people we support have been signposted to us for more in-depth/long-term therapeutic work that is too expensive for many people to fund for themselves.”

The concert begins at 7pm on November 12. Tickets start at £12 for adults and £5 for children, and are available online here.