West Essex and East Herts charity, St Clare Hospice, is inviting members of the local community to attend their fourth annual Walking in Memory event, which will take place at the Hospice in Hastingwood on Sunday 16th October at 11am.
Walking in Memory is St Clare’s flagship fundraising event of the year, and aims to bring together hundreds of local people and families to take part in a 5k sponsored countryside walk to celebrate the lives of those who have died.
“Walking in Memory is a very special event for the whole family to take part in,” explains Sarah Thompson, CEO at St Clare, “and is the perfect way to remember those we love and miss, with others who understand. Starting from St Clare Hospice, together we will walk a 5k route around the beautiful Hastingwood countryside in memory of our loved ones.”
There is a new 5k route planned for 2022 and walkers can also expect to receive a keepsake heart to remember the person they are walking for, as well as a free supporter t-shirt when they receive their first sponsorship donation.
Walking in Memory takes place on Sunday 16th October 2022 at St Clare Hospice (credit Rebecca Day)
“We wanted to add a special touch to the event that would stay with people even after the walk finishes,” explains Amy Winehouse, Head of Relationship Fundraising at St Clare. “The keepsake hearts have been lovingly handmade by St Clare volunteers and give people something meaningful to take away.”
“We’ll be inviting walkers to write the name of their loved ones on their own ‘I am walking in memory of…’ signs which will be pinned to their t-shirts for the walk. Just saying their name, and writing it down, really helps us to connect and remember those we love who have died. So often, when we have suffered a loss, one of the hardest things is that people no longer say their name. So having an event like this, where we gather, and celebrate the people who we miss, can really help us to manage our grief and have a positive outlet for it.”
Walking in Memory is an event for the whole family to take part in (credit Vikki Lince)
“Also, by walking in memory of someone special, walkers will be helping to raise vital funding that supports St Clare to continue offering our specialist, compassionate care to local people living with a life-limiting illness, and their families. It’s a really powerful way of supporting others in the community to live, and die, with peace and dignity.”
Registration for Walking in Memory is now open via stclarehospice.org.uk/walkinginmemory
Tickets cost £15 for adults (or £12 in the current early bird discount which runs until 9th September) and £5 for children. Entry includes a keepsake heart, BBQ burger or sausage (vegan options available) and a free supporter t-shirt when you receive your first sponsorship donation. Tickets can be purchased in advance on the St Clare Hospice website, or at the registration desk on the day.
The event is taking place at St Clare Hospice, Hastingwood Road, Hastingwood, CM17 9JX on Sunday 16th October from 1030hrs – 1400hrs.
For more information on taking part in Walking in Memory, please contact the fundraising team on 01279 773750 or email fund@stclarehospice.org.uk
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Photo credits:
Lead photo: Walking in Memory (credit Vikki Lince)
St Clare Hospice is a charity providing specialist palliative care for people living with terminal or life- limiting illnesses across West Essex and East Herts border. We care for patients and their families, providing physical, emotional, social, psychological and spiritual support, and ensuring they have timely access to skilled, compassionate and sensitive care in a place of their choice. Our services are free of charge to those who need our care, but cost over £5 million a year to run. With limited NHS funding we need to fundraise the majority of this each year through donations and other voluntary sources.
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