Following on from this year’s hugely successful Summer Soulstice 10, a good crowd of people gathered at the Black Horse pub in Barnet on Bank Holiday Sunday, 28th August 2016 for the customary Big Payback event. As well as being an opportunity to enjoy great music from DJ James Anthony, food from the barbecue and kitchen, and a wide choice of beers and wines, Payback day was as always a celebration of the ongoing support that Cherry Lodge receives from Summer Soulstice.
On the birthday of Soulstice crew member Richard Weekes, in the presence of local MP Theresa Villiers, and under a red canopy that challenged our photographers, Soulstice chairman Dave James handed over a hugely impressive ceremonial big cheque to Cherry Lodge events coordinator Tina. This year’s festival proceeds of £40,000 brought Soulstice’s total fundraising for us since 2007 to a fantastic £215,000. Summer Soulstice is by far the biggest third-party supporter of Cherry Lodge Cancer Care and Soulstice money is used to pay the salary of Cherry Lodge’s ‘Soulstice’ outreach nurse, Kirsty Mabb, and also to finance the Cherry Lodge van.
Dave began his speech by thanking all the many people who work so hard to make Summer Soulstice such a huge success. His thanks were met with cheers from the crowd as we all know just how many months of sheer hard work are required before one of the most successful events this side of Glastonbury takes shape. There was then a moment’s anxiety when Dave announced that there would be no Soulstice 11 – a statement he quickly clarified by telling us that from now on this wonderful annual event which thrills its thousands of punters and raises huge sums for Cherry Lodge will simply be known as SOULSTICE!
Cherry Lodge’s chairman Margaret in turn thanked everyone for their support these past ten years and Theresa Villiers added her thanks to the Soulstice crew for raising so much money to support the vital work Cherry Lodge does in the local community.
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