Previous Charities

Listed below are some of the charities we've supported over the years and the monies raised. Please take a look at our Nominated Charity page for details about who we've chosen for 2021.

Blue Skies Hospital Fund

Our charity for 2019 was Blue Skies Hospital Fund, the charity for Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Sadly, extremely bad weather in 2019 greatly affected our last minute tickets sales and overall turnout, meaning that the event just broke even in terms of costs.

A total of £165.44 was raised in the charity buckets over the weekend though, so many thanks to all.

Donations made to Blue Skies Hospitals Fund complement the level of care offered by NHS funding and go the extra mile in making the grey skies of ill health blue.

The charity is dedicated to enhancing patient care by through education and training, procuring the latest medical equipment, developing medical research breakthroughs and improving the environments where patients and visitors are cared for.

2018, Bury Cancer Support Centre

Our charity for 2018 was Bury Cancer Support Centre, a North West charity offering support to local cancer patients and their loved ones.

We were extremely pleased to hand over a cheque for £2,366.58 which will go towards ongoing funding of the service. Many thanks to all those involved and everyone who came down for another great weekend in a field.

The centre offers practical, emotional and social support from a team of experienced professional staff and volunteers to anyone whose life is touched by cancer.

This independent drop-in centre receives no outside funding, relying solely on fundraising and charitable donations to meet its annual costs.

2017, R.N.L.I., Lytham St Annes

Our nominated charity for 2017 was the R.N.L.I., Lytham St Annes and we're proud to have handed over a cheque for £2,591.70 towards their new Shannon Class lifeboat.

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (R.N.L.I.) exists to save lives at sea, providing a search and rescue service 24/7, 365 days a year. It is a charity funded entirely by voluntary contributions.

Lytham St Annes Lifeboat was established in 1851, and operates from two sites. Over the years, there have been 18 awards for gallantry, most notably a Silver Medal awarded following the successful rescue of the crew of 12 of 'The Mexico' by Lytham lifeboat 'Charles Biggs' in December 1886.

This was the worst disaster ever to befall the R.N.L.I. and cost the lives of the entire crew of 13 of the St Annes lifeboat 'Laura Janet', and all but 2 of the 16 crew of the Southport lifeboat 'Eliza Fernlea'. In total, 27 lifeboatmen lost their lives that night, but the crew of 12 was saved.

Although lifeboat technology has advanced over the years, crews continue to risk their lives in all kinds of weather to rescue those unlucky enough to be caught out by the sea. Whether for vessels suffering engine failure, lost or experiencing difficulty in fog or rough seas or simply people on the beach who misjudge the tide, the R.N.L.I. is there to help.

2016, Trinity Hospice, Blackpool

Our nominated charity for 2016 was Trinity Hospice, Blackpool for whom we raised a much needed £2,289.79.

Trinity Hospice's mission is to give compassionate care on the journey towards the end of life.

For three decades they have provided excellence in specialist palliative care and have a huge impact in the Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre community, touching the lives of around 8,000 local people each year.

As well as being open 24 hours a day, every day of the year, their nurses work in the community up and down the coast, giving more patients the choice to stay in their own homes as they approach the end of their lives.

Funding is a constant challenge and many people are surprised that hospice care is not part of the NHS, though it is provided free of charge to those who need it.

Without the support of their 900 volunteers and the generosity of supporters up and down the Fylde Coast, Trinity Hospice and Brian House could not keep their doors open.

For more information about Trinity Hospice, what they offer and how you can help, visit: www.trinityhospice.co.uk.

2015, Brian House Children's Hospice

Our chosen charity for 2015 was Brian House Children's Hospice and we were proud to hand over a cheque for £3,102.57, again beating our previous year! Many thanks to all the volunteers and all those who attended the event.

Specialising in palliative care for children, Brian House supports over 80 families with a 'home from home' environment for children and young adults who have life threatening and / or life limiting conditions.

As one of only a handful of local children's hospices in the UK, Brian House meets complex needs, providing support for the family and care for children who will not be cured of their illness.

Their respite care gives families, including brothers and sisters, the opportunity to experience times of relief and normality, acting as a support mechanism as they try to cope with the emotional, practical and financial implications.

2014, Royal Manchester Children's Hospital

In 2014 our nominated charity was the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital and we nearly doubled our 2013 efforts with £2,420.29 raised. Many thanks to all those involved.

As the largest single-site children's hospital in the UK, the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital provides care for over 200,000 children and young people each year.

All money raised helps to ensure their continued excellence in treatment, care and research to enhance the lives of thousands of patients and their families each year.

2013, Clic Sargent

For 2013 our chosen charity was Clic Sargent who offer help and support to children and young people with cancer.

We raised a fantastic £1,258 thanks to the efforts of our volunteer team, traders and the wonderful guests that stayed with us over the weekend.