Two sisters from Malvern are getting ready to tackle the local landscape this Saturday (18th July) in memory of their “amazing dad” who died earlier this year.
Vanessa Portman and sister Victoria Cooper are taking on the St Richard’s Hospice Malvern Hills Walk this weekend, in its 36th year since the event began.
The sisters, aged 34 and 35, are raising funds for the Worcestershire hospice which cared for their dad, Keith Portman, before he died of cancer in May 2020.
“We received amazing care and support from St Richard’s from the moment dad was diagnosed in May 2019 to his final days in May this year. We formed a great relationship and bond with our nurses and we truly couldn’t have got through this without their support,” explained Miss Portman.
Keith was cared for by both the hospice’s Community Nursing and In-patient Unit Teams.
Miss Portman added: “We’ve always been very aware that St Richard’s offers its remarkable care to local families for free, with only a small amount of funding from the NHS.”
“The wider family first started fundraising for the hospice back in 2018 by holding a 1920s themed night at the Three Counties Showground, which raised £1000. The following year we held an afternoon tea at Mount Pleasant Hotel, in Malvern, raising another £1000.
“This year, with social distancing rules the way they are, we can’t hold a group event but we can take part in the charity’s walk on the Malverns. So, Victoria and I jumped at the chance to give something back again and have raised £420 so far.”
St Richard’s Malvern Hills Walk is running as a virtual event this year, meaning that supporters can enjoy a socially distanced five or 11-mile walk at a date to suit them in the months of July or August.
Jayne Sargeant, hospice fundraiser, said: “We are so inspired by Vanessa and Victoria’s and their family and friends’ fantastic fundraising efforts to date. Of course, it means even more at the current time with most of our summer events cancelled and our charity shops only just starting to reopen.
“With around three quarters of our funding coming from our wonderful community and supporters; we really couldn’t continue to provide free care and support without amazing people like Vanessa and Victoria. So, we’d love others to join them and dig out those walking boots to help support our care this summer.”
To support Vanessa and Victoria and donate towards their fundraising challenge visit: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/vanessa-portman-victoria-cooper
To take part in the St Richard’s Hospice Malvern Hills Walk during July or August, register for free at: https://www.strichards.org.uk/event/malvern-hills-walk/. The hospice is asking participants to raise £50 or more. All those who hit this fundraising target will receive a pair of Bamboo Clothing walking socks, subject to availability.
The Malvern Hills Walk is kindly sponsored by Speller Metcalfe and is supported by the Malvern Hills Trust and Bamboo Clothing.
St Richard’s Hospice cares for adults with a serious progressive illness, improving their quality of life from diagnosis, during treatment and to their last days. It also supports their loved ones.
Each year the hospice team supports more than 3,400 patients, family members and bereaved people in Worcestershire.
St Richard’s is an independent charity and relies on donations and gifts in Wills for the majority of its income with 22% funded by the NHS.
For more information about St Richard’s Hospice visit www.strichards.org.uk
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Notes to News Editors:
- For more information please contact Claire Loveday, St Richard’s Hospice Communications, on 01905 763963.