West End Ladies Undertake Midnight Memory Walk.

Charity Walk

Inspirational, moving, emotional... 3 words I'd use to describe the Midnight Memory Walk.

 

On Saturday 22nd June we walked 10 miles through the night to raise money for Kirkwood Hospice in Huddersfield in their annual Midnight Memory Walk.

 

Kirkwood Hospice opened its doors in March 1987 to care for local people living with life-limiting illnesses and provide support for their families and friends, free of charge and they cared for my dad just before he passed away from a brain tumour almost 25 years ago. Walking with me, were my friend, Jude, walking in memory of her mum, who passed away last year having suffered with vascular dementia; my step sister Lou and her daughter, Lia.

 

I decided to sign up for this challenge for a number of reasons. Firstly to remember dad, and secondly as part of my rehabilitation from a number of injuries over the last 12 months!  Having just re-connected with my step sister after a number of years, I was thrilled when she said she'd like to do it with me and Jude.  We signed up and our t-shirts and walker numbers arrived - it was real, and as the day came closer, and the sponsorship started rolling in (we've raised over £1000 so far between us before matched funding), the excitement grew. We decorated our t-shirts (and ourselves!) and we were ready.

 

On the evening of the event, we arrived at Huddersfield Uni - the start line - met up with some friends and soaked up the atmosphere. 1410 walkers took part, between them raising over £148k in the process: adults, kids, dogs; young and old; some in prams (kids and dogs!), some with sticks (adults!) - The start was amazing - in 2 blocks - hares and tortoises (we were in the second group!) and ahead of us was a sea of flashing lights, with people wearing flashing bunny ears and hair... I guess you had to be there!

 

Just after the 3 mile point was a stop at the Hospice, where I left a message on the Memory Wall and then it was onward and upward to Lepton and down again to Penistone Road, Fenay Bridge.  We were on the homeward stretch (albeit still over 3 miles to go)  It's amazing how much traffic there is on the roads at silly o'clock in the morning!

 

As we got to the top of the final hill - a mile to go and the end was in sight.  We arrived back at the Uni 3 hours and 45 minutes after we left, where a friend was there to see us across the line, offer a congratulatory hug and take our photographs with our medals!  Never has a canteen bacon butty tasted so good although I did treat myself to a beer while I sat on my balcony with ice packs on my knees and ankle watching the sun come up when I got home at 4:45am!

 

Throughout all of this, my sister was doing the walk on a treadmill at the other side of the world in Goulburn, NSW, Australia and we were messaging each other on our progress (not easy when you're on a road in the middle of the night, and you've to take your specs off to read!!) She messaged the Hospice afterwards to let them know (I think she was just jealous we got a medal for it!) and they're going to run a story on us and she's even going to get a finisher's medal too!

 

It was a brilliant experience: A fabulous night, with lovely people doing amazing things in memory of their loved ones, raising lots of money for this wonderful place and charity and one I'll certainly be signing up for again next year.

 

It's not too late if you would like to sponsor us! Please visit our Just Giving page - we, and the Hospice would be eternally grateful.

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18.03.2024 06:42
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With the following restrictions: Preferred Lies ,Temporary Greens. 5 mm of rain fall but the sun is up
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