A Worcester youngster and his family stepped out for hospice care by taking on a sponsored walk, raising over £900 for St Richard’s Hospice.
Jay Ingram, aged 8, wanted to support the hospice that cared for his aunt, Mel Baker, before her death in 2014 and persuaded others in his family to join him. The family walked a route from their home in Kingston Avenue, Worcester around the city to St Richard’s site in Wildwood Drive, before walking home again, a total of eight miles.
Jay, who attends Perdiswell Primary School, was joined by his younger brother Liam, aged 6, his cousin Josh, Mel’s son, aged 14, and his parents Sabrina and Gary Ingram. Making it a real family affair, the group was completed by Mel’s parents, Jay’s grandparents Chris and Heather Ingram, grandparents Julie and Ricky Savage, aunt and uncles Nicola Savage-Barth, Roy Ingram and Paul Savage.
The long distance walk is the second fundraising challenge Jay has arranged for St Richard’s, and follows the success of his sponsored silence last year which raised over £500 for the local hospice. His latest challenge on 1st May smashed his target of £300 to raise £916. This could pay for a patient to receive specialist end of life care in the hospice’s In-patient Unit for two days.
Jodi Brandwood, Events and Challenges Fundraiser at St Richard’s Hospice, said; “This is an amazing thing for someone so young to arrange, and we are very grateful for Jay’s continued support and dedication. We were so glad that the sun shone for the family and that they enjoyed the walk as well as the satisfaction of helping us care for others at the end of their lives.”
Sabrina Ingram, Jay’s mum, said; “Jay wanted to raise some money in memory of his auntie last year and following on from his success he decided this was something he wanted to make into an annual fundraiser. We are pleased to help support something so close to all our hearts. St Richard’s is an amazing charity. We are all so proud of Jay, he is an inspiration to us all.”
Jay added; “I miss my Auntie a lot and this is my way of remembering her.”
