A team of eleven supporters are warming up to trek across the world’s hottest desert in aid of St Elizabeth Hospice.
The week long fundraising challenge will see the eleven Hospice ambassadors drive and trek across the sand dunes and rocky Moroccan desert for four days; sleep under the stars (weather permitting) and in the final two days they will be helping at a Hospice project in Marrakech.
Most of those signed up for the trek are taking on the challenge in memory of a loved one who has received Hospice care in the past and others are doing it to support their local Hospice.
Glenn Hoddy, of Ipswich, signed up for the trek in memory of his Dad, Norman Hoddy. He said: “It’s going to support me as part of the grieving process by turning something negative into a positive for other people.
“I like the idea of getting to spend a couple of days in the Hospice over there, as well as doing the trek; I thought it was a nice little touch.”
Jennie Powling and Naomi Hodges are doing the trek in memory of Jennie’s husband, Rick and between them have raised over £5,700. Mrs Powling said: “Rick felt very comfortable and safe in his last few weeks at the Hospice which was a great relief and comfort to his loved ones at a very difficult time.
“We decided 2014 was going to be the year to do something big and the opportunity to do the trek for the Hospice, a cause which is very close to our hearts, couldn’t be passed up.”
Joanne Rodger, St Elizabeth Hospice’s Events Fundraiser, said: “We were delighted to add the Sahara Desert Trek to our calendar of events for this year and to have eleven people taking on this exciting challenge for us is fantastic – especially as it’s the first year we’ve been able to offer it to supporters.
“We’ve got a great mix of men and women of all ages conquering the scorching Sahara desert next week and between them they’ve raised an incredible £16,300, which really will make a difference to the lives of our patients and families.
“I know they are all very excited and nervous about the challenge, but they’re all determined to complete it for the Hospice, and we wish them all the best of luck.”
Glenn Hoddy, Jennie Powling, Naomi Hodges, Amy Graham, Lucy Beckett, Bobby Dorriety, Ben Dorriety, Jan Hart, Michael Bebbington, Faye Girling and Sarah Fournier will set off on Sunday 19th October, returning on Sunday 26th October. If you would like to sponsor any of them, click on their names to go through to their St Elizabeth Hospice Giving page.
Congratulations to Tom Rennell and Teddy Burke who conquered the Sahara Desert on the inter-hospice trek last week. They raised a total of around £4,000 for St Elizabeth Hospice.
If you want to take on a challenge to support your local Hospice, there’s plenty you could do to raise money for St Elizabeth Hospice. You could take on a once in a lifetime experience such as climbing Mount Kilimanjaro or hiking the Himalayas; if you’re an adrenaline junky, how about skydiving; or if you’re into cycling, how about joining the brand new for 2015 Hospice Team 100 which will see 100 cyclists, riding 300 miles over five days from London to Paris.
To find out more about challenging yourself for charity, click here