“From July I am taking on Swim22, 22 mile channel swim, and the one Million Step challenge in support of Diabetes UK. I have chosen to do both of these challenges to support this worthwhile cause.

There are 4.8 million people living with diabetes in the UK, the complications of which lead to over 500 premature deaths every week. 

That’s why I’ll be lowering my goggles to clock up the lengths and step up to raise money, funding research breakthroughs and supporting those living with diabetes. Wish me luck and please support my challenge by hitting the donate button.”

> STEP Challenge

> SWIM22 Challenge

Our 2019 Charity Ceilidh, helped us reach a charity milestone; raising over £13,000 for Pancreatic Cancer UK in the last three years.

Firstly, we would like to say a big “thank you” to everyone who made our 2019 Charity Ceilidh such a fantastic event, especially our generous owners and holidaymakers who attended the bi-annual fundraiser. We would also like to thank our generous suppliers, who kindly provided a variety of fantastic prizes for our charity raffle. A special thank you also goes out to our wonderful staff who worked tirelessly throughout the weekend to keep everything running smoothly.

Our 2019 Charity Ceilidh Weekend raised £3000, boosting our total funds raised for Pancreatic Cancer UK to £16,332 over the last three years!

More than 200 people – young and old – attended the bi-annual celebration event, which included an evening of live musical entertainment with traditional ceilidh dancing and fantastic food and drink.

We have been running our Charity Ceilidhs for a number of years now and we now dedicate this event to raising money for our chosen charity for Pancreatic Cancer UK which was chosen in memory of the visionary, Frank Holgate, who started the original expansion of the Holgates Holiday Park group in the early 1980’s. Frank sadly passed away in 2015, but his dreams for the parks live on through wife, Judith who is still a vital and much-loved part of our family business along with son, Michael at the helm.

Owner, Michael Holgate said: “We support many charities and worthwhile local causes every year but we decided our main charity partner for the ceilidh’s would always be Pancreatic Cancer UK as it’s a cause close to all of our hearts.

As well as being a family business, we’re also all one big family at Holgates – staff, owners, and holidaymakers. Lots of owners have had holiday homes on our parks for years, and like many of our staff, all have fond memories of dad. That’s why people are prepared to dig deep and we can’t thank them enough for their unwavering support. It means the world to have raised such a great amount for such an important charity and we’ve no plans to stop anytime soon!”

Summer 2018 saw the Holgates Family Group welcome Mawson, our giant red squirrel who watched over the entrance to our flagship Silverdale Holiday Park. He was won at a charity auction, raising £2225.00 for St Mary’s Hospice along the way!

Pancreatic Cancer UK was adopted as our principal charity after, Frank Holgate, died from the disease three years ago.

We raised this fantastic total by carrying out a variety of different activities, and was supported both by staff on Michael’s six holiday parks, and by residents of Silverdale and other surrounding communities.

Accepting the cheque were the charity’s London-based national corporate fundraising officer Amy Hannagan, and NW community coordinator Lynn Quigley.

Amy said that the energy, flair and imagination invested by everyone concerned during the 12-month fundraising bid had resulted in a massive boost for the charity’s highly valued work.

Initiatives included fitness challenges in Silverdale park’s gym, staff dressing in purple on the national awareness day for Pancreatic Cancer UK, and cake sales and quizzes.

Funds were also bolstered by a highly successful ceilidh in the village, and a sponsored walk around local beauty spot Arnside Knott, both enthusiastically supported by local residents.

“Many of the amazing fundraising ideas came from our staff, and they all deserve a huge pat on the back for the time and effort they put in to planning the different events,” said Michael.

“Pancreatic Cancer UK does a fantastic job in helping those diagnosed with the disease to receive the very best treatment and care, and in supporting the families of sufferers.

“Sadly, my father’s death came just before his business marked its sixtieth anniversary, which he would have been justifiably proud to celebrate with his family and many friends.

“Frank was in his mid-seventies, but I have also known other and much younger people than my father who have been affected by pancreatic cancer.

“That’s why we have directed much of our business’s fundraising efforts to helping this charity’s pioneering research work and the help it brings to those with a diagnosis,” said Michael.

The total amount raised by the parks came to £9038.00, but Michael said that his preference for round numbers led the business to top up the overall donation to £10,000.

Thank you for all your support throughout 2017 we are incredibly proud of the amount raised and all the support we’ve received.

Our fantastic Knit and Natter group have made tremendous efforts to raise almost £1,000 for charity, as well as donating hundreds of knitted items to those who need them more than most over the past 5 years.

Pinks and purples were the colours of Autumn at Holgates holiday parks where staff raised over £2,000 for two charities being supported. Staff all turned up for work dressed in bright pink – and decorated the park reception to match – for a weekend of fundraising in support of Breast Cancer Awareness. A few weeks later, holidaymakers marvelled at the sight of everyone in purple as staff took part in a national awareness day for Pancreatic Cancer UK.

A series of charity challenges were set up to help boost funds including a sponsored ramble around local beauty spot Arnside Knott with walkers adorned in pink and purple, and a sale of home-baked treats.

When BBC One Show’s Rickshaw Challenge crossed the border into Cumbria it received more than just a warm reception from well-wishers. Holgates met Matt Baker at the gates at Holgates Silverdale with a £500 cheque ready to support the TV fundraising epic.

The donation produced a big thumbs up from the One Show’s presenter Matt Baker on his 500-mile rickshaw marathon.

Holgates would like to extend a big thank-you to the many local residents who supported its recent dance night for the Cumbria branch of Pancreatic Cancer UK.

The bi-annual Holgates Ceilidh event was held at the former children’s holiday camp, which is now more recognisable as our holiday lodge park The Cove. This amazing total raised far our exceeded expectations.