Celebrity patron Debra Stephenson with the late Nikki Hastings’ daughters Megan (left) and Leah (right)
Tickets are still available for Lewis-Manning’s third annual Celebrating Women Lunch, which will take place in October as part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
This year’s event will take place on Friday 2 October at The Sandbanks Hotel and the charity has announced sisters Megan, aged 8, and Leah Hastings, aged 10, as special guests. The girls will be giving a short talk about their mum Nikki Hastings’ experiences of Lewis-Manning Hospice, as well as the book ‘A Life Turned Upside Down’ that she wrote before her death last year at the age of 40. The girls will also share their own experiences about how they have been promoting the book at recent Race for Life events, in the media and on local radio.
Last year’s sold-out event was hosted by the hospice’s celebrity patron, Debra Stephenson, who is attending again this year. Debra, best known for her television roles on Bad Girls, Coronation Street and The Impressions Show, entertained the women with a selection of her hilarious impressions. She said, “The ladies lunch is an unforgettable occasion. I felt privileged to be among such inspirational and warm-hearted people, entertaining and enlightening. It has become a very special occasion for the diary.”
As part of its commitment to health and wellbeing, the Poole charity, which offers free care and support to hundreds of local people living with cancer and other life-limiting illnesses, organised the first Celebrating Women Lunch in 2013 as a new campaign offering confidence-building affirmations to women.
Rachel Lapworth, Director of Development at Lewis-Manning, said, “The campaign is by women and for women and it aims, in some small way, to empower women to make positive, life-enhancing choices, no matter what stage of life they have reached and whatever their circumstances. We believe that women have unique gifts to offer the world and we want them to have the confidence to share those gifts.”
Described as “a joyful uplifting occasion by women for women”, the lunch will take place from 12 noon at The Sandbanks Hotel, overlooking the beach, and includes drinks on arrival, a 3-course lunch with coffee and mints and 1/2 bottle of wine per person, plus a raffle, auction, balloon pop and more.
Rachel Lapworth added, “This unique and joyful occasion is the perfect opportunity for women in business and not in business to get together and celebrate who they are. Stories are told, achievements recognised, and laughter enjoyed. We welcome all women to attend and share support and inspiration with other women, laugh, cry and celebrate who they are.”
Tickets are on sale now at £55 per person or £500 for a table of 10. Booking early is recommended due to popularity of the event.
For tickets and more information on the Celebrating Women Lunch, please contact Sally Goodenough on 01202 708470 or email sally@lewis-manning.co.uk
