Giving people living with terminal illness
time away in beautiful places
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Ambleside in the Lake District, a popular destination for ABOAB guests (Image: Pixabay)
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Welcome to the A Bit of a Break 2024 winter warmer packed with news from our community of property owners, referrers, supporters and the most important people, the people we gift a break to. We’re talking half marathons and hikes; festive crafting and we hear from one of our longstanding referrers who sees first-hand the difference gifting a break can have to someone living with a life-limiting illness.
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The house worked well as P could walk round to access living and sleeping area on the first floor or on good days use the stairs. Despite the time of year, the weather was kind, and the house was only 5 minutes from the village so we could enjoy the lakeside cafes and shops.
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Building on our Northern Roots
A Bit of a Break's origins lie in West Yorkshire near Bradford and Leeds but we want to be able to accept referrals from across the M62 corridor: from Merseyside and Manchester to the west all the way across to the East Riding of Yorkshire and Hull on the east side of the country.
It’s an ambitious goal for a small charity but when you hear about the difference a break can make to someone living with a life-limiting illness in palliative care, well, it spurs you on. We’re being realistic though, and building relationships with referrers and property partners one-by-one and we’ve had some great success already.
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Welcoming New Property Partners and Referrers
In Liverpool we’ve been partnering with referrer Macmillan North Merseyside for the past five years and we started working with three new (to us) services in 2024 including: Manchester’s Macmillan Community Palliative Care Team (Central & North hubs) which is part of Manchester University Hospitals NHS, Calderdale Council’s Palliative Care Team which is part of adult care services in the centre of our M62 corridor and Carers Plus Yorkshire in the east, an organisation that supports adult carers across Scarborough, Whitby, Ryedale and East Riding.
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What a difference a break makes by longstanding referrer, GP Kate Eldred
I’ve had the privilege of referring patients to ABOAB for a few years now and I’ve seen the benefit that patients and their families have felt at first-hand. As a GP it’s hugely refreshing to be able to offer something so positive at such a difficult and unpredictable time in their lives.
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I also know from a referrer’s perspective that my patients are in safe hands with the ABOAB team. Each conversation is uplifting, and I know they feel supported even when they’re not able to take the break because of their deteriorating health.
One couple commented, "They were so friendly, we couldn't believe that they took so much interest and genuinely cared so much for us".
This patient's life limiting illnesses was slowly progressive, their quality of life had been significantly affected for a few years and sadly they often felt that medical teams had somehow lost interest in them.
The trip away with ABOAB - the first in years - proved to be a lasting success. Following a further prolonged hospital admission and decline, having gained confidence from their break away, the couple were then able to travel to stay with friends for a weekend and remain hugely grateful to ABOAB.
I look forward to our practice’s ongoing involvement with ABOAB and thank you all for the huge difference you are helping to make to our patients lives.
Dr Kate Eldred
Bingley Medical Practice, West Yorkshire
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The opportunity to be away from everything, in total peace, in a beautiful property in a stunning location has been a godsend. The fact that it was gifted, completely free of charge has been remarkable and a mere thank you doesn't even get close to our gratitude. We drank, ate, laughed and were reminded just how important it is to surround ourselves with love and positivity in our darkest times. The timing of a break could not have been better. This holiday rescued us. We are both so very, very grateful. Bless you and thank you, to everyone behind your amazing organisation.
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Properties Galore!
On the property front we’re delighted to be partnering with new property owners in North Wales (Ty Cerrig and Gwendon on Anglesey and Gwynfryn Farm on the Lynn Peninsula), Cheshire's Forest Holidays at their Delamere site and in the Yorkshire Dales and Moors with Old Oak Cottages near Thirsk , Beckside Cottages near Ripon and Cross Cottage/Apartment in Haworth.
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The fabulous Blackpool tower under a blue sky (Image: Pixaby)
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Location, Location, Location! Blackpool, The Lakes and The Peak District
A vital piece in building this M62 jigsaw is having properties in the right locations with space to comfortably accommodate our guests and their needs.
Patients referred to us are usually happy to travel between 1.5 and 2.5 hours to reach their destination. Seaside locations are always popular and we’re always on the lookout for more in Blackpool, Morecambe and Lytham.
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The Lake District is another favourite and is accessible for patients referred from the Liverpool and Manchester as well as Yorkshire.
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A third location that’s proving popular and where we’re on the hunt for more Property Partners is the Peak District, especially in the north-west such as Buxton, Tideswell, Edale, Hope and Bakewell. Beautiful and under two hours travel time from almost all our referral points, we can see why it’s a popular choice.
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If you have contacts with property owners in any of these locations, we’d love to hear from you. Simply email Paula for a chat.
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A view across Bakewell's rooftops in the Peak District (Image: Unsplash)
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Low season breaks bring cosy nights in front of the fire and fewer crowds
An ongoing challenge we have in matching people with a property is the availability of properties at preferred times of the year. Our Property Partners have the most availability to donate to us in the low season – November/December and January/February (excluding the peak Christmas and New Year weeks) but it’s a time of the year when people worry about cold weather, dark nights and the risk of unpredictable travel conditions.
This is where we appreciate the support of our fabulous referrers who can set the scene for what we can offer and manage expectations with their usual sensitivity and finesse.
But just imagine cosy nights in by the fire, hunkering down for a game of cards or a board game, not to mention fewer crowds in the tourist hotspots and less busy pubs and restaurants.
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Let's hear it for our super supporters: Half-marathons, hikes, summer fayres and festive crafting!
Huge congratulations to our Great North Run half-marathon runners - Aoife, Ciara, Sharon, Mike, Sam and Ant for completing this iconic half-marathon back in September. It’s the biggest running event in the world with an atmosphere and warm Geordie welcome to match, even when it’s raining as it did this year.
Our merry band of runners raised well over £2,000 between them and despite getting soaked, had a brilliant day. Fingers crossed for sunshine and blue-sky next year!
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Talking of next year, could we tempt any of you take on this iconic half marathon in 2025 and raise funds for ABOAB? We’ve been allocated five places for the 2025 Great North Run on 7th September. If you’d like to run for us or know anyone who’d be keen, this is how it works:
1. We pay your entry fee (£65).
2. We give you a personalised ABOAB running top so the crowd can cheer you by name.
3. In return we ask you to raise £250 for ABOAB.
4. We’ll support you all the way round the course from the start on the town moor, across the Tyne Bridge and at the finish on South Shields beach!
Please get in touch with Paula at paula@abitofabreak.com as soon as possible!
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Mike at the finish line, smiling but a little damp!
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The iconic Tyne Bridge in the run up to race day, sadly the sky wasn't this clear on the day itself, but maybe it will be in 2025!
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Longmynd Hike
Huge congratulations to Mike and Chris for taking on the Longmynd Hike back in October. This annual 50 mile competition hike takes place the first weekend of October every year from Church Stretton in the Shropshire Hills, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and takes in 8 peaks with a total ascent of over 8,000 feet.
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Stunning views on the Longmynd Hike
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Our ABOAB duo smashed the 50 mile/10,000 feet overnight walk/run within the required 24 hours to raise £1,360 for A Bit of a Break and you can still show your support by donating via their JustGiving page.
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Worth Valley Support Group Summer Fayre success!
Our stalwart friends and top supporters in the Worth Valley Support Group have continued to amaze us this year with their enthusiasm for fundraising for ABOAB. From Keighley, Haworth and Oxenhope and surrounding areas of the Worth Valley, they are unstoppable and their annual August weekend event in Haworth’s Old School Rooms was - yet again - a great success.
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As a family we so enjoyed our rare time together, it was just wonderful to get away. The location was lovely and quiet with plenty of parking. We did a couple of walks in the surrounding countryside and took in the costal views. Thank you so much for giving us the chance to be together to just relax and unwind. It provided us a welcome respite in such a busy and hectic time as we adjust to the difficult news we’ve received.
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Festive crafting, friendship, honey and fundraising with The Understated!
Ange, ABOAB's founder and keen cyclist was an original member of ‘The Understated’, a group of then thirty-something mums with a shared desire to explore the Yorkshire countryside on their mountain bikes.
For twenty years this now 25 strong group of women has gathered on a Monday evening for a cycle ride and they escape for a weekend away every summer too. Wonderful friendships have formed and the group has a special bond. Ange is still very much with them in spirit, especially at their annual Christmas crafting evening where they swap mountain bikes for festive crafts and raise funds (and a glass) for ABOAB and Ange.
This year they made everything from reindeeer inspired decorations to Christmas themed aprons and bunting, not to mention Ollie (Kate's husband) selling his homegrown honey.
They raised more than £700 on the night so thank you to our fabulous crafty fundraisers and Ollie for his homegrown honey.
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Ange was a really strong cyclist but notoriously petrified of cows!
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Thank you!
In essence what we do is simple, we offer a people living with a life-limiting illness a break, an escape. It's a chance to switch off from hospital appointments and treatment schedules and have a complete change of scenery.
While we may not be able to guarantee glorious sunshine and our beaches are more rugged than tropical, we know that getting away from the toil of living with a life-limiting illness is a tonic. It’s why we value and appreciate your unwavering support. There are so many brilliant charities and deserving causes, we’re thankful that you’ve chosen to support us.
Wishing you, your families, friends and loved ones a healthy and happy Christmas and New Year.
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Contact us
Enquiries: Rachel Boggs rachel@abitofabreak.com
Charity: Helen Pilling helen@abitofabreak.com
Properties: Paula Hunt paula@abitofabreak.com
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A Bit of a Break welcomes referrals from The Sir Robert Ogden Macmillan Cen...