Hospiscare
Hospiscare nurses Mandy Densham (L) and Julie Wakley (R) ready for this year’s Twilight Walk
Hospiscare nurses Mandy Densham (L) and Julie Wakley (R) ready for this year’s Twilight Walk
Twilight with a Twist, the iconic pink walking event from local charity Hospiscare, takes place on Saturday 10 July. There’s just days left to sign up to the sparkliest event of the year with registration closing at midnight on Sunday 4 July.
While the event would normally happen with hundreds of people gathering in Exmouth to walk along the East Devon coast, this year the event takes place all over Devon – with participants walking a route of their choice in a location local to them.
The hospice charity cares for over 2,000 patients and their families every year and this care has continued throughout the pandemic. Hospiscare is facing a deficit of over £1.5 million due to the ongoing impact of COVID-19 on its finances, meaning that the support of the local community is even more vital to ensure that the charity can remain by the side of the people it serves when they need it most.
This year’s event theme is ‘glitter and sparkle’ and although participants won’t be gathering in one place, the charity promises all the excitement of the Twilight experience for this year’s walkers.
Each participant will get their own Twilight kit through the post, complete with limited edition Twilight t-shirt, themed goodies and a special 15th anniversary medal as a thank you for shining a light for local patients and families facing terminal illness. The event will kick off with a welcome and warm-up video and wrap with a post-walk after-party broadcast featuring performances by musicians.
Hospiscare Ward Manager, Julie Wakley, will be stepping out in style with her Hospiscare colleagues to enjoy the Twilight Walk. Julie says,
“I’ve worked at Hospiscare for 18 years and this last year has been like no other. We have continued to care for patients seven days-a-week, 24/7, but our way of working has changed completely. A simple hug or just a touch on the shoulder to support families; these are the things we haven’t been able to do.
“Our nurses find it tough because they feel like they can’t do the job they normally do, but we are still there for our patients, laughing and smiling with them behind our masks and making sure that every day is the best day possible.
“I know that come Twilight day on 10 July, my colleagues and I will be walking with big smiles, knowing that we’re raising money to make sure that Hospiscare can remain by the side of our patients through these difficult times.”
Tori Vince, Event Manager at Hospiscare, added:
“We’re determined that Twilight Walk will sparkle in this anniversary year and our walkers will have a brilliant time! We’re excited to be coming together in spirit to raise vital funds for Hospiscare’s specialist end-of-life care. With the charity’s income badly hit by the pandemic, we’ve never needed the community’s support more. We couldn’t be more grateful to everyone who joins Twilight Walk and helps us to continue our essential care during a really challenging year.
“I’d also like to say a massive thank you to Jurassic Fibre for their sponsorship of this event and on-going support of their local hospice.”
To sign up to Twilight Walk and support end-of-life care in the heart of Devon, visit www.hospiscare.co.uk/twilight by midnight on Sunday 4 July.