The family of a young man who died of a tumour will be taking part in St Elizabeth Hospice’s Walk of Thoughts.
Jonathan Bunting was just 26 when he passed away at home in May 2010 following a battle with cancer. He had been cared for by St Elizabeth Hospice at the in-patient unit and at home by the Hospice at Home team.
Now 16 relatives of Jonathan, his fiancée and their two children, will step out for the reflective Walk of Thoughts around Dunwich Heath to raise money for the Hospice.
The sponsored circular walk – on Sunday, March 6 – will start with an informal open air remembrance service at 11am and participants will be invited to pick up a pebble, write their loved-ones name on it and carry it with them on the 5.5 mile route. Canon Sylvia Chapman will lead the service.
Among those walking in memory of Jonathan will be his parents Sally and Anthony Bunting and his sister Kayleigh, 21, of Felixstowe, his brother Gavin Bunting, 35, and sister in law Amy, of Oak Street, Feltwell, near Thetford, as well as Kayleigh’s boyfriend Jonathon Chambers, of Russell Road, Felixstowe. Alaina Bunting, who was engaged to Jonathan, will also take part, with their children Ethan, one, and Aiden, five. She took his surname after his death.
Anthony Bunting, 62, said: “We all wanted to do something to remember Jonathan and give something back to St Elizabeth Hospice for the amazing care he received.
“The Walk of Thoughts will give us an opportunity to gather our memories and thoughts and share them as we walk around the beautiful countryside and we are looking forward to it.”
The walk is open to anyone, not just those touched by Hospice care, and registration costs £6 adult (£4 under 16s) or £7 (£5 under 16s) on the day.
More than 100 people are expected to take part in the fundraising event, which is now in its fifth year, and is set to raise around £10,000 for St Elizabeth Hospice. This is the first time the walk has started from Dunwich.
Event organiser Andrea Chupacova, of St Elizabeth Hospice, said: “New for this year is the remembrance service and the opportunity to hold a memory pebble. The route is stunning and anyone who would enjoy a bracing spring walk is welcome to turn up on the day.”
To register in advance download a form from here or call 01473 723600 or email fundraising@stelizabethhospice.org.uk
Registration on the day starts from 10.30am.