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ACT calls on people to ‘join our docs in festive socks’ – with the launch of a new festive, feel-good fundraiser

Posted on by sarah.rastrick@act4addenbrookes.org.uk

A leading hospital charity in the East of England is launching its first festive fundraiser – aimed at including as many hospital staff as possible.

Launching its Festive Sock Day on Thursday 4th December, Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust (ACT), whose supporters help fund cutting-edge equipment and pioneering research that brings huge advancements in patient care, said they wanted to introduce a festive fundraiser that hospital staff could take part in.

Explaining why the focus is on Christmas socks and not jumpers, Bec Beattie, Public Campaign and Event Manager for ACT, said: “We know that nursing staff aren’t able to wear Christmas Jumpers, but they CAN wear Christmas socks.”

feet wearing Christmas socks

“Festive Sock Day is a fun and easy way for people to support Addenbrooke’s. Hospital staff, schools, businesses, members of the public – everyone can jump on board for this annual festive event, launching this year – and best of all, it’s really easy to take part.”

Hospital staff are jumping at the chance to get festive – with the Imaging Department already signed up to take part in the Festive Sock fundraiser. Other departments keen to don their festive socks include the hospital’s Pathology department as well as Pharmacy.

Schools and education organisations that have signed up so far include Pathfinder CofE School in Ely; Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Teaching School Hub; Chesterton Primary School; St John’s CofE Primary School in Huntingdon; On Track Education in Mildenhall and Spinney Primary School in Cherry Hinton.

Ruby Grimwood, PA to the Pathology Directorate at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, said: “Christmas socks with a lab coat helps bring a splash of colour to a serious environment.”

“In Pathology, it is important for us to keep a sterile and clean environment when handling patient samples, but also to protect ourselves from any hazardous materials. This means that we all have to wear lab coats to avoid contamination and keep ourselves safe. Christmas socks are a great way for the team to show some festive spirit and add some colour to our labs whilst still keeping up with our uniform standards.”

Businesses can also join in – and just like hospital staff, ACT’s Festive Sock Day allows businesses who might not normally be able to wear Christmas jumpers to take part in a bit of festive fun too.

One of ACT’s Corporate Partners, Cambridge Commodities in Ely, has already signed up – with lots of fun, fundraising activities planned throughout the day.

CEO James Stevens said: “Cambridge Commodities staff love Christmas and they love Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust!”

“In the past we have handed out daffodils to the hard-working staff and every year we raise money so that every patient receives a Christmas present on Christmas morning. Sadly, as a high quality, food-grade facility a lot of our staff are unable to wear festive jumpers due to how comfortable they are combined with PPE so we were so excited to see that ACT was launching a Festive Sock Day! What a wonderful idea to have a fully inclusive day where every member of staff can join in, don some festive colour whilst supporting a great cause.”

Asked what their plans were for the day, James said: “A few games will be played, maybe a three-legged sock race, maybe a sock-based dance-off… We will definitely have prizes for the greatest pair. It’s great to involve everyone in giving back at CC where our core pillars are family, friendly and fun. This year we will be proud to spread warmth and joy, one sock at a time!”

In January this year, James’ company became ACT’s first corporate partner to raise over half a million for the charity, after celebrating their seven-year partnership – raising a total, at the time, of £561,810. The company continues to fundraise for ACT and will once again this year buy and wrap Christmas presents for every patient in Addenbrooke’s and the Rosie on Christmas Day.

Anyone feeling inspired to ‘Join your Docs in Festive Socks’ can sign up now.

It’s quick and easy to do and all you need to take part is a sense of fun and a pair of festive socks!

Bec Beattie said: “All you need to do is ‘join your docs in festive socks’, sign up on our sign up page and make a small donation – and sit back safe in the knowledge that you have helped to make Addenbrooke’s even better for our patients, their families and the brilliant people that care for us all every day.”

“Don’t forget to send us your photos and tag Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust in on all your socials. We can’t wait to see who will come up with the jazziest socks!”

Every patient in Addenbrooke’s to receive gift on Christmas Day thanks to Cambridgeshire firm’s fundraiser

Posted on by Danni Smith

‘Magical’ and ‘rewarding’ were the words used to describe a day of handing out Christmas presents and chocolates to staff and patients to ensure that every patient in Addenbrooke’s and the Rosie on Christmas Day will have a present to open. 

The festive gifts were paid for by caring staff from Ely firm, Cambridge Commodities, who spend the year fundraising for the two hospitals through Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust (ACT). 

An annual Christmas Ball focuses on giving back – with proceeds from the event ensuring that every patient in hospital over the festive season will receive a gift. Their thoughtfulness extends to all the staff too, who receive a box of chocolates in appreciation.  

Handing them out last week, ready for Christmas, was a team of staff from Cambridge Commodities and ACT. 

James Stevens, CEO of Cambridge Commodities (fifth from left), said: “One of the most special times in the year is Christmas and every year, at our annual festive Ball, we raise money to pay for every patient who wakes up on Christmas Day to receive a gift.” 

“It’s just the most incredible feeling to have spent the day with members of my team who have been handing out presents they wrapped only a few days ago.“ 

“One of my favourite feelings from today is we get to wake up on Christmas morning knowing that hopefully we have brought a smile to someone who is not having the best time, and if we can bring a little bit of love and a smile to people’s lives, that makes my Christmas.” 

Nikki, one of James’ team of helpers, (first on the left), said the day had extra special meaning for her as it marked the one-year anniversary of her dad’s death. 

Her dad, Michael, had been diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer and had been cared for by staff at Addenbrooke’s.  

“He had chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment at Addenbrooke’s and the staff were just amazing. It seems insignificant giving out chocolates as a way of saying thank you but the staff don’t realise the work they do. My dad was a single parent and we were incredibly close and the staff were just phenomenal with him. No question was ever too silly. Their care was second to none.” 

“Today has been incredible. As well as the presents for patients, we have bought a box of chocolates for all the staff and although it’s only a box of chocolates to say thank you, today has been very, very rewarding.” 

Natasha Robertson, Corporate Partnerships Manager at ACT said: “Today has been so magical and really demonstrates the difference that a heartfelt act of kindness makes and the strength of partnerships and making a difference together.” 

Paul White, (first on left), ACT’s Director of Communications and Impact, said: “Being in hospital at any time is really difficult but never more so than over Christmas. Showing staff and patients that there are people out there thinking of them and caring makes a world of difference. Cambridge Commodities have been working towards this all year and for them to be here today to be part of it is fantastic.” 

Ashwitha Rai, a nutrition assistant who will be working both Christmas Day and Boxing Day, thanked ACT and Cambridge Commodities saying: “It makes a lot of difference for the staff as well as the patients.”  

As well as handing out presents to staff, James also got to visit one of the wards where some of the elderly patients will be spending Christmas Day. 

Ninety-year-old Cynthia, pictured with Paul and James, had only been admitted the night before. She said she normally spent Christmas with about 16 or 17 family members including her son, grandchildren and great grandchildren and said receiving the special gift from Cambridge Commodities and ACT was “marvellous.” 

Ben’s Yard, in Ely, also got involved in the special event by donating their marquee and refreshments as a space for Christmas wrapping, providing their own team of staff to help wrap presents too. 

To find out about volunteer opportunities at ACT, visit www.act4addenbrookes.org.uk/volunteer 

Corporates who would like to support ACT as Charity of the Year can also get in touch by emailing: corporatepartnerships@act4addenbrookes.org.uk 

2024 Cambridge Dragon Boat Festival – ‘the biggest yet!’

Posted on by Danni Smith

The 2024 Cambridge Dragon Boat Festival looks set to be the biggest race yet – with over 40 teams and 600 competitors taking part to raise funds for the new Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital.

This year’s 18th Cambridge Dragon Boat Festival takes place on the River Cam at Fen Ditton on Saturday 7th September with teams of 10-15 paddling 30ft boats up the river with a drummer at the front beating time and a helm at the tail.

Races start at 10am, with a prize ceremony at the end of the day. Festival sponsor Illumina will be taking part on the day and with bankside entertainment, food vans and an on-site bar the event is guaranteed to be a fun-packed, family day out.

Lucy Morton, Executive Director at NewWave Events, said: “We’re on track for this year’s Cambridge Dragon Boat Festival – which is being held in the Chinese Year of the Dragon – to be the biggest one yet with record team entries! We have 41 team entries and over half the firms competing this year have taken part in previous years.”

“It is amazing to see this event growing year on year and incredibly rewarding to see how the fundraising efforts from all teams makes a difference to such a worthy cause. Each year, the event brings a fantastic atmosphere to the city and the energy on the day is amazing.”

“The races are really exhilarating and extremely rewarding to be a part of. For the teams that are competing it is a chance for them to be part of the incredible atmosphere. For spectators, it is a fantastic family day out.”

Friendly rivalry is a big part of what the event is about, but Lucy said it is the unpredictable element that makes the day fun for both competitors and spectators.

“Some of the strongest crews can be knocked out in the heats if they aren’t working together to paddle down the course so it’s very common for novice crews to take home the winner’s trophy on the day as long as they have the determination and team spirit to carry them through!”

All funds raised will help boost ACT’s ÂŁ14 million public appeal to help build the new specialist cancer hospital, whose pioneering research is expected to have a far-reaching impact not just regionally, but nationally and globally too. The Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital (CCRH) will be built on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus by 2029 and bring together clinical and research expertise in a new, world-class hospital, designed in partnership with staff and patients. The new hospital will detect cancer earlier, treat it more precisely, and save more lives.

Donna Lee-Willis, Head of Community Fundraising at Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust, said: “We are so excited to be running this event again this year with our longstanding partners NewWave Events and this year’s sponsors, Illumina. Everyone who is there on the day – whether it be competitors or spectators – has a lot of fun and for us to be able to raise money for what is such a good cause makes everyone at ACT incredibly proud.”

Elaine Chapman, Lead Advisory Nurse for CCRH (pictured left), who is taking part herself as a member of the CCRH Project Team, said: “We are delighted this year’s Dragon Boat Festival is dedicating funds to the Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital project. This hospital will bring together the very best clinical care and research expertise in a specialist building that has considered the wellbeing of patients and staff. Thank you for supporting us, you are helping to change the story of cancer.”

Mark Robinson, VP and GM, UK and Ireland, Illumina says, “Illumina is proud to support this year’s Cambridge Dragon Boat Festival to aid ACT. This unique event is just one of the ways that our team here in Cambridge is giving back to communities in which we live and work, while at the same time having a lot of fun!”

Each team completes three heats, with the 12 fastest teams going through to the semis. Three semi-final winners and the fastest runner-up go through to the final. Each boat seats up to 10 paddlers and 1 drummer. The racecourse is a 200m straight course with each race lasting anywhere between 55 and 90 seconds, with times affected by water flow and weather conditions.

Trophies are awarded for 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th place as well as to the highest placed mixed crew (minimum of five female paddlers), best dressed crew and top charity fundraiser. Medals also go to the top three crews and the highest placed mixed crew.
The winner receives a bottle of bubbly, with the top charity fundraiser winning a punting experience courtesy of Let’s Go Punting.

Bankside entertainment and refreshments include traditional lion dance performances. There are also funfair style rides on the day, with sponsors Illumina hosting several fun activities including strawberry DNA extraction, dress like a scientist with a walk through Cambridge DNA history, a cake stand, face painting and flag making. Cambridge 105 is supporting the event, with live coverage and interviews, on the day.

Come along and support our teams on the day – and help boost our ÂŁ14 million appeal to see the new Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital built in the City by 2029.

For a taste of what to expect on the day, click on the video below.