Kendal Calling is not just Cumbria's biggest festival for Hospice at Home Carlisle and North Lakeland, but also one of their most important fundraising dates of the year.
The charity, which provides home palliative care nursing services for persons who are suffering from cancer and other life-threatening illnesses, returned to the hugely popular festival last weekend, where the were joined by the likes of Gary Neville, Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds, and Blondie.
The wonderful volunteer ‘Sunflower Team’ walked the fields with baskets of vibrant and colourful sunflower items and thousands of festival goers were very happy and eager to donate and support to the cause, as the charity raised an incredible £20,372.56.
Ben Robinson, one of the original founders of Kendal Calling also visited the charity stand to learn more about how the funds raised will help provide hours upon hours of hospice care in the home to patients, families and carers. The visit also gave Julie Blundell, charity fundraiser, the opportunity to thank Ben personally for this ongoing support.
She said: "I would like to once again thank the Kendal Calling Team for their ongoing commitment and to every single festival goers who donated during the event. The funds given at the weekend added to previous contributions equates to over £141,000. The charity first visited the festival in 2011 and this initiative has grown year upon year. It’s lovely when festival goers visit the stand to see how they can support again each year.
"People also approach the volunteers with stories of how the charity and other hospice providers have helped their loved ones receive care and support. Many people reiterated the importance of hospice care providers in the UK and how everyone must continue to support their hospices to ensure these organisations can keep afloat especially amongst the current challenging cost of living crisis."
The Hospice at Home sunflower team are now looking forward to joining the Kendal Calling team again in 2025 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Festival and continue to raise further funds and spread sunflower joy.
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