Moonlight walkers are out of this world

OVER 1,000 people packed the main hall at Westgate Leisure Centre on Saturday night, as walkers registered for a five or 10-mile sponsored walk to raise money for St Wilfrid’s Hospice.

This year was the 10th anniversary of the Moonlight Walk and the record crowd and dazzling entertainment ensured memories made on the night will be cherished for many years to come.

Alison Moorey, the hospice's chief executive, said: "We are so thrilled so many people young and old put on their walking boots to support St Wilfrid’s Hospice.

“There was a wonderful spirit of togetherness as we remembered those we have loved and helped fund-raise vital care for people who are terminally ill.

“Local people are what make both this event and the hospice so special.”

Penny and her daughter Sarah completed the 10 mile walk

Walkers who reached the last station of the 10-mile route were over the moon to see Chichester’s’ own Tim Peake, as his image and message of support to walkers was projected over 15 feet high at a ‘Man on the Moon’ themed station.

With over £40,000 already accumulated from processed donations and sponsorships, the event is sure to have gone a considerable distance in ensuring St Wilfrid’s can continue to serve the local community for many moons to come.

Chichester resident Sarah Parvin, 30, completed the 10 mile walk with her mother, Penny, aged 70, in memory of their dad and husband, Malcolm, who was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer in September, 2010.

She said: "By the time of diagnosis, my dad could barely swallow anything, including liquids, and was in a lot of pain.

The walkers packed in to the hall on the evening

"My dad started chemotherapy and a short course of radiotherapy but it wasn’t long after he had started that we found out the tumour was inoperable and that the cancer had spread to his liver. He passed away four months later, aged 71, in St Wilfrid’s Hospice.

"Mum and I were struggling at home to care for dad in the last stages of his life and knew we couldn’t make him as comfortable as he needed to be.

"We had contact throughout with the amazing Macmillan nurses who arranged for my dad to go into St Wilfrid’s Hospice. He went in there six days before he passed away.

"The staff there were incredible and so supportive, not just to my dad but to us all as a family. They gave us meals to eat there at no cost, meaning we could spend more precious time with my dad.

"All the staff there were so upbeat and positive, which made a truly distressing time an easier one for us all. On my dad’s final day, they hoisted him into a bath and put aromatherapy oils on to help him relax and be more comfortable. After my dad passed away, they offered my mum and I their counselling services for as long as we needed and said their doors are always open to us.

"It is so important to do this walk in aid of St Wilfrid’s Hospice as they only receive 15 per cent of funds from the government and the rest has to come from donations. It’s also a way of remembering our loved ones and giving the hospice something back for the love and care they provided to them. Mum and I have completed this walk a number of times now and always enjoy it.

"We both completed the 10 mile walk and raised over £400 between us. I did the walk after a 12.5 hour shift so was pretty tired before I started! It was a struggle near the end but we managed to push through the pain in our feet! The atmosphere is amazing and all the voluntary guides along the way really boosted us and kept us going.

"A big thank you to all those who organised the 10th anniversary Moonlight Walk and for all the volunteers who gave up a good night’s sleep to guide us through! The entertainment was also amazing, with light shows, music and jugglers, which made it all the more special."

Chief executive Alison Moorey poses with a Dalek

You can still help the hospice reach their 2018 target of £100,000 with a donation by visiting: stwh.co.uk/donatemoonlightwalk