Tie a ribbon round a hospice tree

ACTOR John Henshaw with Christine Harrop, deputy appeals manager at Dr Kershaw’s Hospice, launching the new Rainbow of Ribbons appeal.

LOCAL actor John Henshaw is urging people to do something special for someone who has brought colour into their lives.

He issued an appeal as he made his own special dedication to kick off a new campaign at Dr Kershaw’s Hospice.

He will tie a coloured ribbon on a tree in the gardens, carrying his own personal message for two people who have had a massive influence on his life.

John has chosen to remember his parents, Dominic and Frances Henshaw, with the gesture.

And he is urging people in Oldham to make the scheme a huge success by dedicating a ribbon to someone who is special to them, and helping to make a rainbow in Royton.

Overwhelmed at being asked to hang the first ribbon, he called on Oldhamers to follow suit, saying: “What a great way to say thank-you to someone who has inspired or brought some colour into your life.

“Dr Kershaw’s has a lovely big garden, and I want to see it festooned with ribbons and colour.

“I am always humbled when I go into the hospice and see what is done there, and I’m really chuffed to be involved with this new campaign.”

Urging people to choose a ribbon and write their own personal message on it, John added: “It’s such a positive thing.

“I dedicated my ribbon to my parents because they were such an inspiration to me. The more I miss them the more I realise what they have done for me.”

The Grasscroft-based star of “Early Doors” and “Born and Bred,” and the face of TV post office adverts, John launched the “Rainbow of Ribbons” campaign today in time for Sunday’s hospice garden party.

“It’s such a lovely, positive way to say thank-you or remember someone in an understated and covert way,” said John.

People will get the opportunity to tie a ribbon on a tree until Sunday, September 4, when they will all be invited to see the colourful ribbon of rainbows at the hospice’s garden open day.

Anyone who wants to take part will be asked to make a donation of £2 or more, and money raised by the campaign, which organisers hope to make an annual event, will go towards the £4,670 daily cost of keeping the hospice open.