Drive to raise hospice funds

Published 19 Aug 2010 08:00 0 Comments

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A VOLUNTEER driver for a hospice will be stepping up a gear when she takes part in Thames Hospicecare's Sunrise Walk on Sunday, September 5.

Shirley Poultron, who transports patients to and from the hospice charity's day support unit in Ascot, will be taking part in the walk for the third time, supported by her husband Brian, also a volunteer driver.

Mrs Poulton, from Tawfield in Wooden Hill, said: "The camaraderie is brilliant, as women unite and walk the distance for such a fantastic cause.

"I hope that many other women will join me in this 10-mile challenge, and at the same time, raise funds that the hospice so desperately needs."

Her husband, who will be a marshall on the day, said: "As this is a women-only event I can't participate but I love helping out and probably enjoy the event just as much as the women who come together to walk the route."

As previously reported in the News, the hospice in Ascot, originally known as Paul Bevan House, closed earlier this month for a £290,000 revamp to enable it to offer a wider range of services. It will reopen in November.

In the meantime, patients are being supported by nurses and Thames Hospicecare's Pine Lodge hospice in Hatch Lane, Windsor.

Mrs Poultron added: "Twenty-three years ago, I started volunteering as a weekend receptionist at what was then Thames Valley hospice in Windsor.

"Now as a volunteer driver and general helper at Thames Hospicecare day support unit in Ascot, I see the exceptional care the nurses provide and how reliant local families are on the hospice's services. But this support is dependent on the necessary funds being raised."

Walkers are still able to sign up for the walk, which will start at 5.30am at Thames Valley Athletics Centre in Eton and go through Windsor town centre to Windsor Great Park.

There is a £15 entry fee per person and all single, multiple or team entries are welcome. A warm-up will be provided beforehand and participants will receive goodie bags and a medal on completing the challenge.

Volunteers from the Thames Hospicecare shop in Peach Street, Wokingham, will also be taking part.

Among the walkers will be Susan Tootill and Susan Gray.

Susan Tootill, 52, from Piggot Road, Wokingham, has been volunteering in the shop for more than two years. Originally from Nottinghamshire, she knows from personal experience how important hospices are for local families. She said: "My mother-in-law, Dorothy, was fortunate enough to have the care of a local hospice in Cheshire.

"When her illness became worse the hospice helped to control her pain, made sure she was comfortable and gave her the emotional support she needed. To know Dorothy was being so well looked after at the end of her life was all that we could ask for as a family.

"The hospice movement does a remarkable job without any fuss or fanfare. I hope by helping out in the shop and doing the walk I can give something back to my local hospice."

Shop manager, Carol Cooper, is hoping the efforts of her volunteers will encourage those visiting the shop to take part too.

She said: "The Sunrise Walk is only weeks away but we could still do with many more participants. Some of our shoppers have already registered to take part, but we could do with lots more people joining our volunteers on the start line.

"The more participants we have then the more funds we can raise for the hospice."

This article appeared in Villager 12 Aug 10

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