The Stephen Hughes Foundation

03/11/2026

Our ukulele band the Sunshine Strummers are playing at a special Remembrance event - Bomber County Yorkshire - at St Michael's Church, Cherry Burton, East Yorkshire on Saturday 7th November. Tickets are still available.

The organisers are raising funds for the church and are also very kindly making a donation to The Stephen Hughes Foundation for which we are very grateful.
Tickets are still available, see poster for details.

01/11/2026

Christmas Ukulele Spectacular
One Amazing Christmas Strum 2026 – The Stephen Hughes Foundation Charity Ukulele Concert

Start the festive season with a dazzling ukulele Strum/Sing Along event on Saturday 5th December at the wonderful Albemarle Music Centre in Hull, 60 Ferensway, HU2 8LN (Next to the Spring Street Theatre).

We are so pleased that the Stepney Stars are performing, alongside four local bands, as these are children from the Stepney Primary School in Hull who have been learning to play the ukulele on instruments provided by The Stephen Hughes Foundation.

There will also be a performance from Ukulele Gee, Hull’s own Ukulele Busker and singer songwriter who will be bringing his own brand of music to the Albemarle stage. On the day there will also be an amazing Christmas raffle and tombola.

Tickets are now on sale and can be obtained by contacting Gary and Hazel Hughes by e-mail at [email protected] and paid by bank transfer, the Just Giving link or cash.

All funds raised will support The Stephen Hughes Foundation and its aim of ‘Saving Young Hearts’ through research into the heart disease Myocarditis and the Charity’s Music and Sports Development Grants for children of primary school age.

We also have a Facebook Group titled ‘One Amazing Christmas Strum 2026’ where you can find the latest information on the event, link here One Amazing Christmas Strum 2026 - Charity Ukulele Concert | Facebook

Don’t miss the opportunity to get the festive season off to a great start with this fabulous concert!!

Best wishes
Gary and Hazel

22/10/2026

It was a beautiful day autumn for our annual visit to Chatsworth House in the Peak District today as all the family came together to remember Stephen’s Birthday.

Stephen would have been 36 years old today and we miss him so much. For the last twelve years, since we lost Stephen, we have come together every year at Chatsworth. We do this as we have fabulous memories of Stephen paddling in the cascade on his nan’s special birthday, and we always gather for a photo in the same place.

We were so pleased Hazel senior was able to join us after three spells in hospital over the last two and a half months and we all loved exploring the fabulous gardens today.

The visit to Chatsworth is always a very special day and it was wonderful to return in the wonderful autumn sunshine today.

05/10/2026

Beverley Ukulele Sunday Strum (BUSS) 4th October

A huge thank you to everyone who bought raffle tickets last night at the Beverley Ukulele Sunday Strum. The razzle dazzle raised a fantastic £66 for our Charity – The Stephen Hughes Foundation, which is supporting pioneering research into the heart disease Myocarditis and our Music and Sports Development Grants for children of primary school age.

It was another great turn out at the Beverley Ukulele Sunday Strum (BUSS) last night with ukulele enthusiasts attending from far and wide. The session brings together players of all abilities and features songs and music from a range of genres.

The historic Monks Walk is a wonderful venue for music and excellent ales, and it has become a great favourite with our group of players.

All tastes of music were covered last night with songs from Fats Domino, Dolly Parton, Hawkwind, Oasis, U2, Beatles and the Beautiful South all featuring. We love an eclectic mix and a few challenging tunes across the evening.

The Open Mic slots, once again, demonstrated what great musical talent we have locally and so pleased that BUSS provides a stage for this to be showcased.

Next BUSS session – Sunday 1st November at the Monks Walk Inn, Beverley. Don’t Miss the BUSS!!

30/09/2026

Breaking News!!
One Amazing Hike 2026 has raised a stunning £1106.25!! More sponsorship likely to come.

29/09/2026

One Amazing Hike 2026 – The Stephen Hughes Foundation

We did it!! One Amazing Hike 2026, One Amazing Day and One Amazing Group of People walking and fundraising to support The Stephen Hughes Foundation.

A group of 18 intrepid hikers, joined us from all parts of the UK and successfully completed the full 8 mile circular walk from Ashford-in-the Water in the beautiful Peak District. We set off in drizzle but fortunately the weather kept dry for 7 miles of the hike and it was an ideal temperature for walking.

The walk included some notable features along the route including the historic Magpie Mine, the Deepdale Nature Reserve, Monsal Dale and Viaduct and a short stretch of the Monsal Trail.

We finished with celebrations around the village well in Ashford-in-the Water and then on to the Bulls Head pub for post hike Sunday roast and drinks. Here the day ended with a Ukulele Strum/Sing Along in the pub and lead by the Derbyshire Ukulele Collective & Kazoo Society (DUCKS for short).

It was a wonderful day with fabulous camaraderie from this incredible bunch of people and it is a massive thank you from The Stephen Hughes Foundation to everyone who joined and/or supported the walk.

All the funds raised will support our aim of ‘Saving Young Hearts’. The Stephen Hughes Foundation was set up in memory of Stephen who passed away in October 2014, just nine days short of his 24th birthday after a 6-month battle with Giant Cell Myocarditis. The two key purposes of the Charity are to raise money for research into Myocarditis, and to provide Sports and Music Development grants for children of primary school age.
There is still time to support our walk and here is the Just Giving Link The Just Giving Link https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/tshf-one-amazing-hike-2026?msockid=1de6229268ff680a104734a7691f6961

Here are a few highlights from the walk…

24/09/2026

One Amazing Hike – Sunday 27th September

If you are free this weekend you are very welcome to join our annual charity walk in the beautiful Peak District, Derbyshire. One Amazing Hike is taking place on Sunday 27th September and is raising funds for The Stephen Hughes Foundation.

The walk is 8.5 miles in distance and is a circular walk from the stunning village of Ashford in the Water. The route takes in the historical Magpie Mine, Deep Dale, Monsal Head Viaduct and Monsal Trail. Around fifteen intrepid walkers will be joining the hike challenge, kindly helping to raise funds for our Charity.

More details below:
Location: Ashford in the Water near Bakewell
Distance: 8 .5 miles
Start Time: 10am
Meeting Point: Ashford in the Water Car Park, lots of free parking in the village and a suggested donation of £3 if parking in car park.
Address: 4 Court Lane (Can also be accessed via Church Street), Postcode: DE45 1QG

Post Walk Ukulele Strum and Sing Along – Bulls Head, Ashford in the Water

Charity Donation: £10 via Just Giving Link – One Amazing Hike 2026 The Stephen Hughes Foundation.

We do hope you will be able to join us. If you are not able to take part it would be lovely if you would sponsor us via the Just Giving Link.

Big hugs from Gary and Hazel

17/09/2026

A huge thank you to the Renegades, the wonderful ukulele band from Pocklington for fundraising for The Stephen Hughes Foundation at the Fang Fest Music Festival.

08/09/2026

Fabulous Donation Received

We have recently received a fantastic donation to the Stephen Hughes Foundation from Suit Direct of the Baird Group from the proceeds of carrier bag sales. Our charity was nominated to become their charity of the year and we were chosen along with two other organisations.

The amazing donation will enable us to expand the geographical areas open to bid for our Music and Sports Development Grants. A huge thank you to the company and to the employee who very kindly nominated The Stephen Hughes Foundation.

04/09/2026

One Amazing Hike 2026 – The Stephen Hughes Foundation

It is just under one month away from our annual Charity Sponsored Walk which is taking place on Sunday 27th September 2026 in the heart of the beautiful Peak District in Derbyshire.

You are very welcome to join us and here are the details:
Location: Circular walk from Ashford in the Water near Bakewell
Walk: Magpie Mine and Monsal Dale/Monsal Head and Viaduct from Ashford in the Water
Distance: 8 miles
Start Time: 10am
Meeting Point: Ashford in the Water Car Park
Charity Donation: £10 via Just Giving Link attached here One Amazing Hike 2026 - JustGiving https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/tshf-one-amazing-hike-2026?utm_medium=CA&utm_source=WA&fbclid=IwY2xjawUHfoFwZG9mAWV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR6O728dnqMH4fSZyCJfk-gMby1Dan2naub6S62zWVPIeZXC59uPPknNzb3l0g_aem_ZYVzLybmHJZiVhqocbiudg

There will be some entertainment at the end of the walk with another ukulele strum/sing along session at the Bull’s Head in Ashford in the Water after a pre-booked Sunday Roast meal at 4.30pm.

Accommodation is available in Bakewell and possibly Ashford in the Water, and a few of us will be staying over on Saturday/Sunday night.

All funds raised will support The Stephen Hughes Foundation and our aim of ‘Saving Young Hearts’ through research into Myocarditis and our Music and Sports Development Grants for children of primary school age. Over £120,000 has already been raised, so please help us to reach our new target of £150,000.

Please confirm if you can join us on the walk. It would be lovely if you could help our fundraising efforts through obtaining sponsorship for the walk and a sponsor form is available upon request. We also have a Facebook Group where are the latest details on the walk are posted and titled, One Amazing Hike – The Stephen Hughes Foundation.

We do hope you will be able to join us. If you are unable to participate, it would be brilliant if you were able to sponsor us to complete the walk and donations can be made via the Just Giving Link above.

Many thanks for your great support.
Gary and Hazel

The 8 mile circular walk in the Derbyshire Peak District will set off at 10.00am on Sunday 27 Sept from the public car park in Ashford in the Water, and include the Monsal Trail and Viaduct & the Magpie Mine. Entry fee £10, & Charity TShirts £5.