In September this year, three Cumbrian netball clubs came together to raise £2,800 for Eden Valley Hospice. The fundraising efforts of Penrith, Meerkats, and Harraby Netball Clubs were focused on a charity netball tournament held at Queen Elizabeth Grammar School in Penrith, which ran alongside a raffle, and in memory of three local netballers who the Cumbrian netball community have lost far too soon. Nichola Jackson (Penrith NC), Jodie Hodgson (Harraby NC) and Jen Manning (Meerkats NC) were much-loved and sorely-missed members of their clubs, and were remembered fondly by all at the tournament on 20 September 2025. 

Despite the rain forcing play indoors, the tournament was a great success, welcoming eight teams from across Cumbria and the North West. Each team pulled out all the stops to compete at a high standard throughout the day, over several short-form matches which were split into a cup and plate competition. The Cup was won by Harraby Netball Club, with Mavericks coming in second place. They were followed by Meerkats B and Penrith 1 in third and fourth respectively. In the Plate division, the winners were Penrith 2, followed by Meerkats A, Kendal NC, and Diamonds NC (Wigan) in second to fourth places. The honour of Player of the Tournament was shared by Lisa Carruthers (Harraby NC) and Clovis Sleath (Penrith NC).

Penrith NC Chair, Caroline Tyson, said of the event – “It was brilliant to be able to join forces with our fellow netball clubs of Meerkats and Harraby in the running of this fundraiser. It’s the second year that we’ve organised a memorial tournament like this and it’s gone from strength to strength. Next year, we hope to welcome more teams from all over the county and region to remember our loved ones that we lost too soon.”

The funds raised in their memory have been donated to Eden Valley Hospice, a charity close to many in the community. On the evening of 21 October 2025, Vicki Lesley of Eden Valley Hospice and hospice mascot Hospuss, joined members from the organising clubs alongside fellow Carlisle Netball League teams to celebrate and mark the donation. She remarked that “at Eden Valley Hospice we rely on the kindness and generosity of the local community to ensure we can continue to provide the very best care to people with life limiting conditions. We are so grateful to Penrith Netball Club and everyone who donated at the tournament. They raised an amazing amount and their support means the world to us.”

Thanks and immense gratitude are extended to all local business donors who supported the fundraising raffle with their generosity, as well as the event volunteers and wider supporters. Another memorial tournament is being scheduled for September 2026.