THERE is still time to sign up for the St Clare Hospice Walking in Memory event, which will take place at the Hospice in Hastingwood on Sunday 20^th September. Walking in Memory is St Clare’s flagship fundraising event of the year, and aims to bring together local people and families to take part in a 5k countryside walk to celebrate the lives of those who have died.  

Starting from St Clare Hospice, the 5k route winds through the beautiful fields and footpaths of the local, Hastingwood countryside, courtesy of Paris Hall Farm. On the day, participants will receive a complimentary, hand-held windmill which will form part of a moving display in the Hospice gardens.  

This year’s event will have additional safety measures in place due to the Covid-19 outbreak to ensure the fundraiser can go ahead safely and adhering to all current government guidelines. This includes having three staggered start times of 10am, 11am and 12noon with a maximum of 100 people at each time slot to allow social distancing.  

St Clare’s ‘top fundraiser’ from last year’s Walking in Memory event was Carley Chitticks who walked in memory of her mum Michelle, who was cared for by the Hospice in 2019. Carley and her family raised an impressive £8,260 in sponsorship. Carley Chitticks commented: “We took part in St Clare’s first-ever Walking in Memory event last year and it was a really special day. Our young daughters and nephews were able to take part, and the hand-held windmills were a lovely touch and made a beautiful display in the hospice gardens. My nephew was thrilled to see them still in the gardens months later too.” 

“We will be taking part again this summer, and encourage everyone who joins us to try and raise as much sponsorship as they possibly can. Anything you raise will help to fund the amazing care St Clare Hospice provides – for local families like ours. You never know when you might need the support of your local hospice, and we cannot imagine what we would have done without it at our time of need.”

You can register for Walking in Memory at stclarehospice.org.uk/walkinginmemory 

Tickets cost £10 for adults and £5 for children, or £27.50 for a family of four. Please note:  Everyone is welcome to attend the event, but due to the nature of the course it is advised that the landscape is unsuitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs. On the day, participants will be asked to arrive no more than 30 minutes before their agreed start time. This is to ensure that each timed group of people is kept separate from the others, to minimise the amount of people coming into contact. 

The walk starts and finishes at St Clare Hospice, Hastingwood Road, Hastingwood, Essex, CM17 9JX. 

For more information on taking part in Walking in Memory, please contact Emma Broadbent on 01279 773754 or [email protected]