Monday 2 July 2012

My Walk Ten - more than just fundraising

Two years ago I took part in Walk Ten in Richmond park with my eldest daughter (just turned 10), cousin and uncle.  Actually, my daughter and uncle were only going to walk a short part of the distance with us, but they ended up doing the whole 10K! 

Before we set off, we listened to Julia Bradbury (the one from Country File) who is a Marie Curie Ambassador, talk about why she was supporting the Walk Ten campaign.  Then followed the exhausting ‘warm up’, which would have been enough for me, but apparently there was still 10K awaiting us.

The walk took us up (a lot) and down (not so much) the beautiful landscape of Richmond Park, and as night fell, we approached the end of our trek, quite tired and just a little sweaty.    When we got back, a Marie Curie nurse gave a brief talk about the amazing work they do and at 10pm, the time that the Marie Curie nurses start their shifts, candles were lit to remember those loved ones no longer with us.  Clearly many people there had lost someone - either that or a lot of people had got grit in their eyes. 
It was a very moving evening.  My cousin had died a little over a year beforehand, aged just 40, of an aggressive throat cancer, so it was particularly lovely that his sister and dad took part.  If you have lost someone, this is a great event to do to remember them, and to raise a few much needed pounds to enable Marie Curie Cancer Care to continue their work.  Every £20 raised pays for an hour of care in the patient’s home, or in one of the nine Marie Curie Hospices.  Without this charity, the choice for someone to spend their last few days at home would not really be an option.
My daughter & cousin in 2010
This year, our local Walk Ten takes place at the Denbies Wine Estate in the rolling Surrey Hills in Dorking on Saturday 11 August.  I am led to believe that this is equally hilly, if not more so, than Richmond Park – yippee!  But I will be there, with both my girls this time.
Please, join Walk Ten if you can.  You don’t have to walk at top speed – a reasonable pace and you should be round easily in between 2 and 2½ hours.  You will feel a great sense of achievement and have a lovely evening too.  There’s entertainment laid on and fireworks to end the evening. 
PS, bring a pack of tissues – that grit can be very irritating. ♥
Find out more or register to take part.

Here's a short video from the Eastbourne Walk Ten from last year.