Hospice to Hospice walk is back this year

A Royton-based hospice's annual Hospice to Hospice walk is returning this year - and it promises to be bigger - and eco-friendlier - than ever.

Dr Kershaw's Hospice have confirmed the 7.25 mile walk will take place on Sunday, April 26. 

Registration will open at 9.15am on the day at the hospice on Turf Lane, before the walk is due to commence at around 10.20am with local dance academy 'Ana's Dance' leading the warm-up. 

The walk will take participants to nearby hospice Springhill, where people can have a cup of tea before setting back off to Dr Kershaw's. 

When the walkers arrive, they will be greeted by Stalybridge Old Brass Band and can collect their commemorative walkers wooden medal. 

Last year's event saw over 500 people setting off from the hospice, helping to fundraise over £25,000 for patient care.

The hospice says it is determined to raise even more this year and are encouraging more people to get fit and fundraise. 

Dr Kershaw's needs to raise over £2.2 million each year in order to keep the doors open and provide free care to patients and their families within Oldham.

The event is open to all, with supporters of the hospice being encouraged to bring along their family, friends and their four-legged friends. Some members of the public even go the extra mile and wear fancy dress for the occasion and get their local sporting or community group involved to join in the fun.

This year’s event will have a particular focus on becoming as eco-friendly as possible, as the hospice looks to minimise its carbon footprint.

In order to do this, event organiser Grace Carr is encouraging online sign-ups rather than paper and urging participants to take advantage of online sponsorship forms, which are available via online platforms such as Just Giving, in order to reduce paper wastage.

The hospice is also asking participants to bring along their own re-usable water bottles on the day to help, where possible, reduce the use of single-use plastic.

In addition, Dr Kershaw’s is also not looking to purchase any new stock or supplies for this event, using only current supplies they have in their stock cupboard which will, where possible, be recycled post-event in order for the hospice to be more environmentally conscious.

Online registration is already open, with participants able to sign up for the sponsored walk on the hospice website at www.drkershawshospice.org.uk/events/.

Pre-registration for the event is £8 per person online and increases to £10 on the day for any last-minute sign-ups.

For those without access to the internet, paper registration forms and sponsorship forms are available on request from the fundraising team at the hospice by calling 0161 624 9984.

Events Fundraiser Grace Carr said: "The Hospice to Hospice walk is the perfect opportunity to get fit and fundraise for Dr Kershaw’s Hospice. Our aim is to make this year's event bigger and better than before and we are asking the people of Oldham to come together and support their local hospice." 

Main image:

IT’S THE TAKING PART THAT COUNTS: An Oldham Rugby Union team during last year’s walk.