Our thoughts are with Ruth Allsopp this Saturday as she walks 33 miles across Worcester and Malvern on her birthday – recalling special moments along the way and raising funds in memory of her beloved friend Hayley Woodward.
Ruth, pictured left in the photo with Hayley, is walking one mile for each year of Hayley’s life. Hayley was living with breast cancer since 2018 and was cared for by St Richard’s before she died last October.
“Hayley and I have been friends since we were two years old, and I planned a route that will take me through some of Hayley’s favourite places, and where she spent some of her happiest times,” said Ruth.
“Hayley was so grateful for the love, care and support that the St Richard’s Hospice team gave her. She raised tens of thousands of pounds for charity over the past few years, and I can think of nothing she would want more than for us to continue this fundraising in her memory, so others can also benefit from this support.
“We all feel desperately sad and lost now that Hayley’s gone, but the best I can do on this first birthday without her is to surround myself with the happiest of memories, people and places she loved, while raising for a cause that was so close to her heart.”
Ruth will be joined by Hayley’s mum, Hayley’s husband Andy, and other family members and friends along the walk after setting off from Worcester City Centre at 5.30am.
Destinations along the route include Malvern College where Hayley was bridesmaid at Ruth’s wedding; the Bank House Hotel where they attended high school prom and Stanbrook Abey where Hayley married Andy in 2018.
“The final few miles will take in Nunnery Wood Primary and High School which Hayley attended and over Ronkswood Meadow to the area where we both grew up. I’ll walk past our childhood homes and finish at the Lyppard Hub where we met at play school when we were two years old, and where Hayley held her first charity fundraiser event after she was originally diagnosed with breast cancer.”
We wish Ruth the best of luck on her walk and a huge thank you for fundraising for our care.
If you would like to support Ruth’s fundraising, visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/33milesby34