Oldhamers of all ages urged to sign up for Dr Kershaws' ‘Virtual Hospice Walk’

Hospice volunteer Margaret Wright has signed up the ladies in her family for Dr Kershaw’s ‘Virtual Hospice Walk’ this June for will be a joint bid to raise much-needed funds.

Margaret will turn 80 later this year and has been volunteering for Dr Kershaw’s Hospice since she retired, 20 years ago.

At previous Hospice events, Margaret has been on hand in her volunteer capacity to support with refreshments, but the launch of the Hospice’s new virtual event has spurred her on to sign herself up, along with five other female family members.

With almost 62 years between Margaret and her granddaughter, Chloe, the youngest participant at aged 18, the family will be stepping it up with their joint fundraising in support of the Hospice.

Family members taking part in the virtual walk include Margaret’s daughter, Chrissy Emerson with her two children, Charlotte and Chloe Emerson, along with Margaret’s granddaughter Danielle Wright and her mum, Christine Scholes.

Sponsored by Jackson and Jackson Ltd, who were responsible for building the Hospice's new In-Patient Unit, Dr Kershaw’s Hospice’s brand new, family friendly ‘Virtual Hospice Walk’ - with the slogan ‘Your Walk, Your Day, Your Way’ - will give those who sign up the opportunity to take on a walk of their chosen distance, on their chosen day and their own route.

Taking place throughout the month of June, walkers will be able to take part with a route of 5km or more if they want to challenge themselves, with all ages being encouraged to join in, even four-legged friends!

Margaret said: “When I saw the ‘Virtual Hospice Walk’, I thought what a brilliant idea, we can pick the distance, where and when we walk whilst raising funds to support the ongoing care in the fantastic new build.

"We are making a day of it and having some food in the garden when we get back.

"The whole family has always supported Dr Kershaw’s because of my involvement and they were all keen to join in with this new challenge.

"We also thought it would be the perfect opportunity to have a joint birthday get together to celebrate my 80th and my granddaughter Chloe’s 18th.”

Margaret, despite having a knee replacement last October, is raring to go, with her and the family planning to walk 5km locally, with Hollingworth Lake being at the top of their list of walking locations currently.

Margaret’s granddaughter, Charlotte, 21, has been brought up with her grandma volunteering at Dr Kershaw’s.

She said: “I am so pleased to be doing the ‘Virtual Hospice Walk’ to raise money for Dr Kershaw’s Hospice.

"We love walking, especially when we all walk together as a family.

"What makes it better is that we can do something we enjoy whilst raising money for such an amazing charity. 

"Dr Kershaw’s helped my grandma so much when she lost her husband, my grandad, three years ago, and it’s just a small gesture that we can do this walk to raise funds to support the Hospice.”

Registration for the ‘Virtual Hospice Walk’ is just £8 per person, with walkers receiving their own ‘Virtual Hospice Walk’ fundraising pack which includes a sponsor form, a T-shirt, temporary tattoo, bespoke walker number and a post walk virtual medal to say that ‘I walked the Virtual Hospice Walk for Dr Kershaw’s'.

For more information on Dr Kershaw’s ‘Virtual Hospice Walk’, or to sign up, please visit: www.drkh.org.uk/hospice-walk or call 0161 624 9984.

Please note if you registered for the 2020 Hospice to Hospice Walk and transferred your registration fee to 2021, your entry to Dr Kershaw’s ‘Virtual Hospice Walk’ is free of charge.

Please select the appropriate option on the online registration form.

For those who do sign up please remember to adhere to the latest Government guidelines in June on how many people / households can be together at that time.

---

Do you have a story for us? Want to tell us about something going on in and around Oldham? Let us know by emailing news@oldham-chronicle.co.uk , calling our Oldham-based newsroom on 0161 633 2121 , tweeting us @oldhamchronicle or messaging us through our Facebook page. All contact will be treated in confidence.