A challenging overseas trek is being organised by a local hospice.
For the first time, St Richard’s Hospice – based in Worcester – is organising a bespoke 12 day challenging trek to the Himalayas, exploring the Nepalese countryside.
The trek will take place from 2 to 13 November 2019 and on Wednesday 5 September, the hospice – along with travel organiser Different Travel – will be holding an information evening at its Wildwood Drive site. Representatives from the travel company will be on hand to inspire potential travellers and answer any questions.
Walkers are urged to sign up by the end of September to allow time for training and fundraising.
Alison Parkes, Fundraiser at St Richard’s Hospice said : “Nepal has established itself as the true home of adventure and this trek is a great opportunity to witness the culture and tradition of the people who live there.”
Importantly, the trip will also include two days helping a non-profit hospice care organisation in Kathmandu which – like St Richard’s – offers services and support to terminally ill patients and their families.
Already signed up for the Himalayan adventure is June Patel, St Richard’s Hospice Chief Executive. She explained : “I am very much looking forward to taking part in this challenge. I have never been to Nepal before and so it is hugely exciting. From a personal point of view, I am looking forward to pushing my boundaries and spending time outside of my normal comfort zone. Professionally, I am also very much looking forward to experiencing hospice healthcare in a different setting. My aim is to raise as much as I can for our care.”
The registration fee for each applicant is £350.00. Two options are then available :
- Pay £2,300 for the trip and raise as much sponsorship as possible;
- Raise a minimum of £3,600 in sponsorship and the trip will be funded by the hospice.
Hospice supporters have previously taken part in a variety of overseas challenges to raise funds towards the charity’s care. Last year, paramedic Rebecca England from Worcester took part in a trek to the Great Wall of China to raise funds for the hospice which cared for her mum. Raising almost £3,200, Rebecca said the experience was a once in a lifetime one.
She said : “I really enjoyed my time in China waking the Great Wall. At first I was a little bit apprehensive as I had decided to take on the challenge by myself but once I met the rest of the group I was put at ease. Everyone in the group was lovely and meeting them was one of the highlights along with walking the Great Wall and seeing the amazing scenery. The guide, who was organised through Charity Trek and Travel was extremely good and everything was really well organised. Staying in the guesthouses along the way was also a great experience as you were able to see how the people in the more rural parts of China lived.
“To prepare for the trek I made sure that I did lots of walks along the Malvern Hills. I made sure that I would be able to walk for long periods of time and that I was ok with walking up and down steps, as there were a lot!
“I think that Mum would have been really proud of me undertaking the challenge. She was always very encouraging and would have supported me one hundred percent.
“The work that St Richards does is amazing; the incredible staff provide the support and care that patents and their families need at really difficult times. Without the work of the hospice we wouldn’t have been able to support Mum in the way that she wanted. The staff were kind, patient and empathetic and listened to Mum’s needs as well as us as her family. Without St Richards an extremely difficult time would have been much worse.”
To confirm attendance at the September open evening please contact or call the Fundraising team on 01905 763963.
For further information, please visit https://www.strichards.org.uk/event/nepal-trek-2019/.