Sue Ryder St John’s Hospice are asking schools and children from across Bedfordshire and Huntingdonshire to put pen or paint to paper and create colourful messages of hope to share with participants taking part in this year’s PaintRush in St Neots.
The 5km family friendly ‘full of colour’ outdoor event, supported by Right at Home, Premier Plus and iDash, will take place at Riverside Park on 26th June 2022.
And this year as well as covering participants in colours all shades of the rainbow, the hospice wants to display colourful messages of hope from local children to motivate participants too.
A selection of the artwork submitted will be displayed at the PaintRush event, bringing a smile to all those taking part as they arrive and register.
Local artist Sarah Graham from Hitchin, who appeared as a guest judge on CBBC’s ‘Britain’s Best Young Artist’ earlier this year will be judging the artwork to select two winners – one for junior and one for senior aged school children – whose colourful messages of hope which will be framed and put on display at Sue Ryder St John’s Hospice too to bring joy and cheer to patients, families, volunteers and staff.
She said, “I’m thrilled to be judging the colourful artwork to go on display in the hospice. It’s important to me that my art is all about colour and positivity, so I will be looking for that in the entries.’
Children and local schools are being asked to submit their artwork by Wednesday 25th May to Sue Ryder St John’s Hospice in Moggerhanger so the artwork can help form the powerful visual display for people joining this year’s PaintRush.
Organised by volunteers, PaintRush hopes to raise vital funds so Sue Ryder St John’s Hospice can be there when it matters for local families from across Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire.
People can find out more about the PaintRush and register online at www.sueryder.org/stjohnspaintrush.
Chelsea Zwetsloot is on the committee of volunteers helping to arrange the event. She said: “PaintRush is a bold and beautiful event that will really brighten up your 2022.
“We hope to welcome people to run, jog, walk or skip while getting showered in multi-coloured paint, in support of a much loved local charity which makes such a big difference to many local people.
“You’ll cross the finish line covered in colour with a big smile on your face, take home some amazing memories and experience the feel good factor of helping families when it matters most.
“We wanted to put on a special event to help support a truly special place, which is close to the hearts of many of us on the volunteer committee. I will never forget the phenomenal care they gave to me and my family when my grandad was cared for in their inpatient unit.”
Joanne Landucci, Senior Community Fundraiser at Sue Ryder St John’s Hospice, added: “At Sue Ryder we believe that the end of someone’s life is the most important time of their life. Our care teams do all they can to make room for the things that matter – like spending time with loved ones, sharing stories, jokes and memories, and filling their final days with love.
“It’s truly fitting that this family friendly event will help raise vital funds so patients in our care experience as much comfort as possible at the end of their life, while helping to create some colourful fun memories for people and families taking part.”
“We’d love to share lots of colourful, uplifting messages of hope from local children to motivate our participants as they run around the route. We hope to receive lots of colourful submissions from local schools and children.”
Children wishing to submit colourful messages of hope for participants should post their completed artwork to Sue Ryder St John’s Hospice, St John’s Road, Moggerhanger, Bedfordshire, MK44 3RJ with their name, age and contact details. Please note artwork will not be able to be returned.
PaintRush St Neots in support of Sue Ryder St John’s Hospice takes place on 26th June. Starting and finishing at Riverside Park in the town, there will be a vibrant and fun warm up and atmosphere. Attendees can run, jog or walk the 5K route dotted with paint throwing stations.
Tickets cost £18 per adult and £12 per young adult (12-17 years) with children from age 5 to 12 able to take part too at the cost of £8 per ticket.
To register online, visit: www.sueryder.org/stjohnspaintrush.
Please email the hospice’s fundraising team at: stjohnsfundraising@sueryder.org or call them on 01767 642 412 with any queries.
