Why not take part in a peaceful walk starting at the beautiful Woolverstone Hall in Ipswich, taking in some wonderful views across the River Orwell.
This event, organised by St Elizabeth Hospice, is an opportunity to remember a friend or loved one, or to simply enjoy walking in the wonderful surroundings.
The seventh annual Walk of Thoughts will take place on Sunday 3rd March starting from Woolverstone Hall at Ipswich High School for Girls.
The circular six mile route will take you through the countryside around the Shotley peninsular, and should take around three hours to complete.
Beforehand, there will be a reflection at 10.45am, which will provide an opportunity for remembrance for all the walkers, not just those with a connection to the Hospice.
Walkers will be invited to write the name of their loved one on a pebble, provided by the Hospice, which they can keep. And walkers will receive a bookmark containing seeds which they can take home and plant in their loved one’s memory.
The event attracts keen walkers, as well as those remembering loved ones, and participants are encouraged to raise sponsorship. Around 200 people are estimated to take part in the walk and it is set to raise £10,000 for the Hospice.
It costs £8.7m a year to run St Elizabeth Hospice, and the money raised will go towards helping provide services free of charge to people in East Suffolk and South East Norfolk living with a progressive illness and supporting their families.
Walk of Thoughts organiser Emily Sullivan, of St Elizabeth Hospice, said: “The Walk of Thoughts is an opportunity to remember a loved one or friend or to simply enjoy a walk and stunning scenery.”
“We encourage walkers to raise sponsorship and if a walker raises £60 that could help fund a Hospice nurse for three hours. All money raised goes towards enabling us to provide local hospice care for local people.”
The walk is open to people of all ages and dogs are welcome, providing they are kept on leads. The route is not suitable for wheelchairs or buggies.
Walkers can register in advance or on the day from 10am. Registration fees are £10, free for under 16s.
For more information or to register online, please visit our Walk of Thoughts page or contact the fundraising team on 01473 723600 or email fundraising@stelizabethhospice.org.uk