On Sunday 10 May, hundreds of walkers will be out enjoying the Essex countryside as Farleigh Hospice’s popular Walk for Life returns.
This fun, family-friendly sponsored walk follows the scenic Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation towpath, with two routes to choose from. The 12km ramble starts at Paper Mill Lock in Little Baddow, while those looking for a bigger challenge can take on the 24km route beginning at Heybridge Basin. Both routes finish at the Teledyne e2v offices in Waterhouse Lane, Chelmsford.
Walk for Life, now in its 27th year, is an important fundraising event for Farleigh Hospice. The charity provides compassionate care and support for adults living with a life-limiting illness in mid Essex, and their families and carers. This takes place in their homes and at the specialist Inpatient Unit at the hospice in Chelmsford. Farleigh also provides bereavement information and support.
The hospice makes no charge for any of these services.
Rebecca Howes, 36, will be walking 24km in memory of her dad, Kenny Sloan, who was cared for by Farleigh at the end of his life.
Kenny Sloan
Rebecca said, “I don’t know what my family would have done without Farleigh Hospice’s care and support. They helped with Dad’s medication, organised the hospital-type bed he needed and arranged personal care for him, so he was comfortable at home. Thanks to Farleigh, he was able to spend his last days with us, looking out onto his garden, which was very important to him.
“Dad died on 15 May last year and it would have been his birthday the day after Walk for Life, so it will be a really emotional day for me. I don’t normally walk this far, but I want to push myself and raise as much sponsorship as I can to say thank you to Farleigh.”
Farleigh Hospice is very grateful to everyone who takes part in Walk for Life and collects sponsorship.
Sarah Millerick, Fundraising Lead at Farleigh Hospice, said, “Thank you to Rebecca and all of the other walkers who are kindly being sponsored for Farleigh.
“We are delighted by how many people from our local community have signed up for Walk for Life. It’s an important fundraising event that helps Farleigh to provide our much-needed care, and also a really enjoyable way to see the beautiful local countryside.”
It costs £20 for adults and £5 for under 16s to sign up for Walk for Life before 4pm on Wednesday 6 May. Walkers can pay on the day at Heybridge Basin or Paper Mill Lock, but higher prices will apply. Each participant will receive a t-shirt and a finisher’s medal. For more information and to sign up now, visit www.farleighhospice.org/walk .