A devoted daughter is travelling over 400 miles to take part in a charity walk for The Hospice of St Francis, which is currently supporting her father.
Nimita Bhatt, 29, is making the trip from Belfast to Berkhamsted to join the throng celebrating the the Hospice’s 40th birthday, remembering special loved ones and supporting its fundraising effort by taking part in its ‘Walk With Us’ event on Saturday 29th June.
Nimita’s father Yogi, 63, from Grove Hill, Hemel Hempstead, has a deteriorating lung condition and has been receiving palliative care at home from the Hospice’s community nursing team and carers for the last four months.
She said: “Six months ago I didn’t really know what the Hospice was or what it did. I had no idea we could get help like this and for free and the help and support from day one has been incredible – not only for my dad but for me and my mum too.
-with-her-dad-yogi-and-mum-bina-res0cf5e9152c936b338ac1ff000035bb5b.jpg?sfvrsn=1 "Nimita Bhatt (right) with her dad Yogi and mum Bina res")
“My dad describes the Hospice nurses as ‘pillars’ supporting him and as well as educating him about his medication and helping manage his condition, mentally and spiritually, he is in a much better place too.”
Nimita will be taking part with one of her oldest friends Riffath Hossein, 32, from Watford, and so far she has raised nearly £650 of her original £150 target through Just Giving to help rasie the Hospice raise the over £5m it needs every year to help 2,000 people a year to live their precious lives well.
“I’m so grateful to family and friends for sponsoring me,” added Nimita. “Walk With Us seems like a really good way to bring together anyone touched by the Hospice in any way. None of us knows if or when we might need its care and six miles is a very manageable distance.”
Alison Woodhams, the Hospice’s current Chair of Trustees, will also be walking with her husband Ron and so far has raised over £1,000 through Just Giving.
She explained, “Fourteen years ago my Dad died at Leicester Hospice Charity, Loros, and the care and support he and my mum received in the last two-and-a-half years of his life changed the way I thought about hospices and inspired me to become a trustee at The Hospice of St Francis.
“My time as Chair of Trustees ends next year and I wanted to do a sponsored event before I finish. What better event to do as the Hospice celebrates its 40th birthday this year, and it’s certainly less difficult than the Mud Pack Challenge and less scary than jumping out of a plane!”
Many local people have been touched by the Hospice’s care over the last 40 years and everyone is invited to walk the route in their memory at this very special event. Every step taken and every penny raised will help fortify the Hospice for the next 40 years so it can continue providing free care and support and help more local people to live their precious lives well.
The event will start at Berkhamsted Cricket Club, passing the historic ruins of Berkhamsted Castle before proceeding along the canal towards Northchurch and making its way towards the current Hospice in Spring Garden Lane. It will then head back in time to the site of its first home in Shrublands Road, and walkers will have the chance to light a candle in the place where it all began – at St Peter’s Church in Berkhamsted High Street.
Walkers are advised to wear comfy shoes and suitable clothing as the route crosses multiple terrains including grass, road, footpath and towpath. It is also advised to bring a torch for covering the less well-lit areas on route.
Online registration (£15 per adult, and £5 per child under 18) closes at midnight on Weds 26th June but registration will be open at 7pm on the night. To sign up and for top fundraising tips visit stfrancis.org.uk/walk-with-us
To find out more about the Hospice, visit stfrancis.org.uk or follow the charity on Twitter @hospicstfrancis or Facebook facebook.com/thehospiceofstfrancis #YourPreciousLife #WeLoveYourSupport