A nurse from Winchcombe has embarked on a year-long series of fundraising challenges to raise vital funds for Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice.
Rachelle Bray’s year of fundraising will see her complete a series of demanding events to raise funds for the hospice where she works as a Team Leader for the Hospice at Home service.
Rachelle, 46, will be joined by her cousin Emma Bray, to complete the tricky challenges, which so far include a 21-mile hike, two half marathons and a cold-water plunge as part of Sue Ryder’s iconic Big Dip fundraiser in December.
Rachelle said: “I’m doing the challenge with my cousin, Emma. She had a friend who died in Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice five years ago and decided she wanted to do some fundraising and I said I’d join her.”
“At the same time, talking to lots of people about what I do, I realised that few people know about our Hospice at Home service and what my job entails.
As a team, we work in the community, providing end-of-life care for people who want to spend their final days at home, with the people, and the things around then, that they love. I’m hoping to raise awareness of our service across the region and raise vital funds at the same time!”
Having kicked off their fundraising adventure on 18 May, with a 21-mile hike through the Upper Cotswolds, the plucky duo haven’t let the grass grow under their feet. Rachelle explained: “I’m currently doing a virtual Lands End to John O’Groats walk, where I have to complete 1,744.2 kms in 273 days! I’m doing it in stages.
“Then we’ll be doing a half marathon as part of Run Cheltenham in September, so I’m training for that one now. I’ve never done a half marathon before, the most I’ve done is 10k, so I’m building up my distance gradually. I’m trying to train three times a week – luckily there’s a huge country park with lots of hills and green space on my way home from work.
“In October we’ll be taking part in Sue Ryder Starlight Hike at the hospice. I’m really looking forward to that one – it’s a lot less strenuous than a half marathon and lots of fun!”
Following a second half marathon in Broadway in November, Rachelle’s final challenge of the year will be Sue Ryder’s Big Dip 2024 on 1 December, where hardy participants will brave the icy waters of the Sandford Park Lido in Cirencester.
Rachelle plans to continue her fundraising efforts in 2025 and is hoping to raise £1,000 to support Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice, which houses the county’s only inpatient unit just outside Cheltenham.
Rachelle concluded: “I’m really passionate about what I do. When my friend told me about this job – working in the Hospice at Home team providing end-of-life care in people’s homes – it just made me light up! It was a combination of all my experiences, and working in people’s homes is such a privilege. We’re invited in and get to see the real person.
“I’d like Hospice at Home to be part of conversations that people have about the choices that are available to them at the end of life.”
You can support Rachelle by making a donation on her online JustGiving page here: Rachellele Bray is fundraising for Sue Ryder (justgiving.com)
For more information on Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice, visit www.sueryder.org/leckhamptoncourt
If you feel inspired to sign up for Sue Ryder’s Big Dip 2024, visit Sue Ryder Big Dip 2024 Registration, Sun 1 Dec 2024 at 12:00 | Eventbrite.
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About Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice:
At Sue Ryder, we can’t make life’s most difficult moments easy, but we can carry some of the load. For more than 70 years we have been a source of strength and support for anyone living with a life-limiting illness or grief.
Dying and grief are universal experiences, but too many people face them alone. Here at Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice located just outside Cheltenham we provide a safe and reassuring hand for right across Gloucestershire to reach for.
From giving care and support for someone at the end of their life to helping someone manage their grief, we know there is no one size fits all when it comes to how we cope and the help we need. We campaign for everyone who is approaching the end of their life or grieving to have access to the right support, at the right time. And we seek to break down the barriers to talking about dying and grief – so we can all be better prepared and better equipped to be there for each other.
We can make a positive difference during even the darkest of times. Whether in the last months, weeks or days of life, or living with grief, we help people live the best life they possibly can. We are there when it matters.
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