Get your hat on for Havens Hospices this Easter

April 8, 2020

A woman from Southend is organising an egg-citing Easter Bonnet design competition in aid of Havens Hospices this Easter, as inspired by her personal connection to the charity.

Elspeth Spall, 45, normally arranges a coffee morning in her garden during the Southend Half Marathon to cheer on her husband Chris who takes part in the event. However, with the event being postponed this year due to the Coronavirus, she decided to host an online Easter Bonnet competition instead.

The competition will be running until Thursday 16th April and to enter the competition simply choose a hat, cap, or bonnet, anything that you can find from the top or the bottom of your wardrobe – and decorate it. Then post a photo of your design on Elspeth’s Facebook event page ‘Hats Off to Havens’ tagging @HavensHospices. Finally, make a minimum donation of £1 to Havens Hospices via her Just Giving page www.justgiving.com/elspeth-spall.

The person who creates the most original design will win four complimentary tickets (with no expiry date) to a game of golf at Caddies in Southend. The winner will be announced on Friday 17th April.

Elspeth says, "My best friend's daughter stays at Little Havens and we have been supporters for years. ‘Hats off to Havens’ is a virtual Easter bonnet parade - entertaining the children, keeping them connected to their friends and raising money for Havens Hospices to continue their wonderful work.

“I can’t wait to see everyone’s designs - themes could include traditional spring chicks, eggs and flowers or perhaps something to celebrate our amazing NHS and all of our country’s key workers!

“As part of this event, United Methodist Church has donated 70 bonnets and cowboy hats and I have made craft packs with Easter decorations. These are being distributed by the Southend Association of Voluntary Services (SAVS) to the local families with young children that they are supporting in this crisis."

Sally Bridger, Community Fundraiser at Havens Hospices says, “We can’t thank Elspeth enough for organising this fundraiser which will help raise vital funds for the charity. It is so heartwarming that our local community is still thinking of us through these tough times. I would also like thank Caddies too after they kindly donated the winning prize of four tickets for a round of Golf, which can be used once they reopen.”

“Our hospices, Fair Havens and Little Havens are still open to care for patients at the end of their life and we can only continue this essential hospice care because of kind donations made through fundraising events like this.”

Supporters can still organise safe fundraising events from the comfort and safety of their home – for a list of ideas, head to www.havenshospices.org.uk/havensherobingo. To find out more about how Havens Hospices continue to ‘Make every day count’ for the people it cares for visit, www.havenshospices.org.uk.