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Women out in force for hospice midnight walk

08 July 2011

Hundreds of women – including fairies, cowgirls and angels - united in Romford town centre last Saturday, to take part in the Saint Francis Hospice midnight walk.

Over 640 brightly dressed women – in either pink or yellow t-shirts or fancy dress - completed the third 10km sponsored Star Trek midnight walk on Saturday 2nd July. Their efforts have raised around £80,000, which will help fund patient care for people with a life limiting illness across the community.

Walkers enjoyed a mass warm up in the form of a zumba class, followed by a routine from the Gymophobics, before Havering Mayor, Councillor Melvin Wallace set the walkers on their way from the Liberty Shopping Centre.

Councillor Wallace, who has chosen to support Saint Francis Hospice as his charity during his year in office, said: “This is an amazing evening, all these women doing a wonderful thing for a very special charity, which helps 600 people across the community every day. Raising £80,000 is an incredible feat, they need to be congratulated greatly – I just wish I could walk it!”

Among the walkers was a group of patients who attend the day hospice, joined by their family and friends. One member of the Day Care Dollies was mother-of-four Kelly Ann Seary, 32, from Harold Hill. Pupils from Kelly’s daughter’s school, Brookside, in Harold Hill, designed posters featuring pictures of dollies for the team to wear.

 “It was a really emotional evening,” said Kelly. “Everyone is there for one reason, everyone’s been touched by the hospice, and it was such a united front. There was great support – cars were beeping their horns, people were standing on balconies and cheering you on, which was really motivating, and the atmosphere was great.

“I’d be lost without the hospice. The staff are angels, they treat you like individuals not just another patient. Being a mum of four young children, you have to stop yourself from saying things sometimes, but thanks to the hospice I don’t have to bottle anything up, everyone understands what you are going through.” 

Seventeen women dressed in feather boas and tutus took part in memory of Nikki Blunden, who died in April. Mother-of-one Nikki died aged just 38, after losing her battle with cancer. Nikki’s Midnight Walkers are mainly mums who met Nikki at St Theresa’s Catholic School in Dagenham, where her son Thomas, 4, is a pupil.

“Star Trek was an amazing experience,” said Patrizia Riccobono, 35, from Dagenham. “It was very emotional, we all had a tear in our eyes, but at the same time it was uplifting to see everyone pull together for such an amazing cause. We are thrilled to have raised over £1,000.

“We were so touched by Nikki, and her situation. She was definitely an inspiration for us and I think this is the least that we can do. Most of us here have been touched by cancer in a personal way, and this is just a small way of us paying back to her memory.”

Julie Tointon-Mahandru completed the walk with 12 friends and family members, raising £2,500 between them. Team Dee were walking in memory of Julie’s husband Dee, who died at the hospice last year aged 45 and just three months after their daughter Sophia was born.

Julie said: “The hospice has been involved in my life a lot caring for my grandparents and husband. If it wasn’t for the help of the hospice, Dee wouldn’t have been able to meet Sophia. The hospice is not just a place to end your life, it’s about giving you quality of life. And Dee’s quality of life improved so much once he had been treated by the hospice.”

“We felt like we were part of one big family at Star trek. I’m still buzzing, it was a brilliant experience, with an electric atmosphere, and it was so moving that so many people were there, in memory of loved ones, raising money for the hospice together.”

Kim Claydon, 37, from Dagenham, was joined by her family and friends for Star Trek, as they walked in memory of her dad, Charles, who died in the hospice on June 12, aged 62. Charlie’s Angels raised well over £1,000 in sponsorship.

“It was such a party atmosphere, it was just so positive and everyone was out to have a good time,” said Kim.  “Everyone was aiming for the same goal, it’s just that unspoken bond that everyone is there because they’ve lost someone close to them and they’re trying to do the best they possibly can to help the hospice. I just cannot express how grateful we were to have the hospice, and for all the things that they do.

“The care that dad received was there because previously other people have fundraised for us, and now we’re doing it so that people in the future can receive the same level of care and attention that he experienced.”

Hospice staff entered including nurses from the inpatient unit, and a team from Hospice at Home walked in memory of colleagues Diane Papidas and Carol Penfold who died last year. Among the Hospice at Home Hunnies, who dressed as bumble bees and raised over £1,400, was Senior Staff Nurse, Amie Blumson.

She said: “Star Trek brought together loads of like minded people, who have all been touched by the hospice in some way. It was a great atmosphere – once we finished we stayed and cheered everyone else on, supporting them all the way.”

Event organiser Elizabeth Palfreman, said: “We are once again thrilled that so many women have joined together for an evening of fun under the stars, raising an incredible amount of money for the hospice. I’d like to thank everyone who came, all the supporters, and all of the volunteers who worked busily behind the scenes ensuring everything ran smoothly on the night. £80,000 will make a huge difference to people across the community who have a life limiting illness, as well as their families and friends, and I’m already excited about next year’s event.”
 

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