Ashgate Hospicecare is thrilled to announce that they have been named as this year’s Redbrik Chesterfield Half Marathon main charity partner.

The event, which will take place this year on Sunday 22nd October, will be supported by Ashgate Hospicecare who will refund runners their entry fee if over £100 sponsorship is raised for the Hospice.

Huw Bowen, Chief Executive of Chesterfield Borough Council, said:-

“I am delighted to be the first person to sign up for this amazing event. Ashgate Hospicecare is a very important and vital charity for the people of Chesterfield. The half marathon is another fantastic event to add to the Chesterfield calendar.”

Esther Preston, Director of Fundraising and Marketing at Ashgate Hospicecare, who will also be taking part in the event, said:-

“I am so pleased to be chosen for this year’s Redbrik Chesterfield half marathon.”

“At this moment in time, there are 16 families a week in North Derbyshire who need hospice care but can’t access it. Ashgate Hospicecare needs to recruit more nurses and events like this will make it easier for us to reach everyone who needs us.”

“We know the tremendous difference hospice care makes to families like Benji’s and hope people across North Derbyshire will get involved with this event to ensure no one has to go without the support they need.”

John Bennett was diagnosed with skin and lung cancer in 2006 and was later referred to Ashgate Hospicecare. John, affectionately known by his family and friends as Benji, received care in his own home before being admitted to the hospice’s Inpatient Unit where he later died. He was 51. His son, Matt Bennett, shares his experience of the time he spent at Ashgate.

Matt says:-

“My dad stayed on the hospice’s ward for a week before he died. That week’s stay was, for us as a family, a relief. He died with dignity which we can’t thank Ashgate Hospicecare enough for. But it wasn’t just the way they treated him, it was the way they treated his friends and family too – especially my mum. Without them, we didn’t have the knowledge we needed to support him.”

There has already been interest from numerous runners across Chesterfield so make sure to sign up as soon as possible. Ashgate Hospicecare will support all runners with their fundraising as well as provide running vests.

Mark Ross, Director at Redbrik, said:-

“Being involved in Chesterfield is something which is extremely important to us. We started our business four years ago and the town has been receptive to us so we really wanted to put something back into the community. Especially supporting local charities like Ashgate Hospicecare, which is such a phenomenal charity that helps so many people.

“We encourage all local businesses in the area to get behind this event, run for Ashgate Hospicecare and raise as much money as they can for this wonderful charity.”

Race director John Timms from MLS Contracts added:-

“We are really pleased to be working with Ashgate Hospice as our main charity partner for the next five years. The Hospice provides such an important service for the families in the region and the team and staff at Ashgate have already proven to be very valuable partners to the half marathon. We look forward to helping the Ashgate raise more money for its much needed services.”

If you would like to sign up for this year’s Redbrik Chesterfield half marathon, register here for just £18 and make a huge difference to patients and their families across North Derbyshire.

Ashgate Hopsice also need over 200 marshals cheering on the runners as they take on the route. Is this something you could help with? If so, please contact their events team at events@ashgatehospicescare.org.uk or call us on 01246 233404.

Flashdance – The Musical returns to the UK for the first time since 2011 starring Strictly favourite Joanne Clifton and singer-songwriter Ben Adams, and will arrive at the Winding Wheel in Chesterfield on Wed 8 – Sat 11 November 2017.

Strictly Come Dancing Champion Joanne Clifton is no stranger to being at the top, as she is also a World & European Champion ballroom dancer, and is one of very few pro dancers to have won both the main Strictly glitter ball with Ore Oduba last year and the Christmas Special in 2015 with Harry Judd.

She is now excited to take on her latest starring role as Alex Owens in the UK Tour of Flashdance. Joanne says:-

“This is just another dream come true! I think everyone in the world whether dancer or non-dancer, as soon as they hear ‘What a Feeling’, remember that iconic scene at the end of the film and I’m so incredibly lucky that I get to do that every night in a UK TOUR along with fabulous numbers like “She’s a Maniac.” I’m over the moon!

“It’s another amazing opportunity in my musical theatre career and I can once again sing and act alongside dancing! I just hope the water’s not too cold when it falls on me!’

Ben Adams who will join Joanne on stage as Nick Hurley has been singing and performing since the age of 8. At 16, he became the lead singer of the band a1, who racked up 10 million record sales, 2 UK number ones, 5 studio albums and toured throughout the world, winning a Brit award among many others.

When the band split, Ben took to the studio and is now a successful song writer and producer, working with the likes of Robin Thicke, Craig David, JLS, Ward Thomas, Sam Bailey, Boyzone and Alexandra Burke to name but a few. He also reached the final of Celebrity Big Brother, the Norwegian version of Strictly Come Dancing, and Master Chef in Denmark. As well as writing for other artists, he went straight to number 1 in the itunes charts with his classical album titled One Beautiful Mourning. His first solo album 1981 will be launched early 2018.

In 2010, a1 reformed and having successfully completed stadium tours in Asia and 68 sold out arena concerts across Europe, they starred in The Big Reunion on ITV2 and played arenas across the country.  They continue to tour throughout the world.

Ben says of taking to the stage in Flashdance:-

“It’s amazing to be part of such an iconic story, and as an 80’s child I was brought up on this music so I couldn’t be happier playing Nick in the theatre production of Flashdance.

“Whilst I continue with my own music career and touring with a1, Musical Theatre has always been a real passion of mine, so to be asked to play this role, and to be working with such an amazing cast and crew is a real honour.

“I look forward to seeing you all out on the road in the coming months”

Prepare to be blown away with an astonishing musical spectacle and phenomenal choreography to this iconic score, including the smash hits Maniac, Manhunt, Gloria, I Love Rock & Roll and the award-winning title track Flashdance – What a Feeling.

Book your tickets here.

The Darmstaedter Kantorei – Darmstadt’s leading choir – are performing at Chesterfield Parish Church on Friday 16th June as part of their forthcoming visit to the UK.

The Sacred Music of Europe concert will be performed by the Darmstaedter Kantorei is directed by Christian Ross and accompanied by organist Misty Schaffert.

The choir has a formidable reputation as one of the best ensembles in the Frankfurt area and is known for its musical versatility which has been showcased across Europe. The choir’s programme for Chesterfield is to include music by Mendelssohn, Britten, Howells and Pärt.

The relationship with Chesterfields twin town Darmstadt goes back to 1959 when a twinning agreement was signed. Twinning links were forged in the decades after the war to foster contacts between ordinary people, so that the friendships formed would make a future European war unthinkable. Many Cestrefeldians have visited Darmstadt over the years and links between the two towns remain very important.

The Darmstaedter Kantorei is directed by Christian Ross and accompanied by organist Misty Schaffert.

The concert on Friday 16th June starts at 7pm. Entry is free, with a retiring collection taking place to support Chesterfield Parish Church. All are welcome.