Preparations now underway for St. Margaret’s Hospice Annual Great Somerset Walk on Sunday 12 May 2013.
Somerset has some of the most picturesque scenery in the United Kingdom, so what better way to explore it than on foot, with family and friends and whilst raising money on Sunday 12 May to help care for local people who have a terminal or life-limiting illness.
The Great Somerset Walk is organised annually by St. Margaret’s Hospice. The walk is unique and follows a route running between St. Margaret’s two hospices in Taunton and Yeovil. Taking the intrepid explorer along lanes, bridleways and public by-ways through picturesque Somerset towns and villages, walkers can challenge themselves to complete the full 34 miles cross-country or pick a single section of 4 miles; all whilst raising funds for local charity St. Margaret’s Hospice.
Since The Great Somerset Walk began in 2005, those supporting the event have raised in excess of £220,000 for the local hospice, an incredible sum of money which goes a long way to providing specialist palliative care, advice and support to patients and their families living in Somerset and parts of neighbouring counties.
The walk route meanders across some of Somerset’s most beautiful and historic areas including the Taunton and Bridgwater Canal which skirts its way in splendid isolation around the base of the Quantock Hills for a little over 14 miles.
You can choose to walk whatever section of the route you like, starting and finishing at any of the following nine registration points: St. Margaret’s Hospice, Yeovil; Village Hall, Odcombe; Youth Club, Martock; Town Hall, Langport; Parish Church Room, Stoke St. Gregory; Canal Bridge, Creech St. Michael; Maunsel Lock, North Newton; YMCA, Bridgwater; St. Margaret’s Hospice, Taunton.
To walk the full 34 mile route between the hospice in Yeovil and Taunton, you will need to be up early as the hospice recommend you start before 8.00am. Registration is just £5 and children under 16 walk free.
Anyone of any age can take part – it’s the perfect event for the whole family to be involved with. The section of the walk between Taunton and Maunsel Lock is wheelchair and pushchair friendly; you can even bring your dog!
For the last several years we have been very fortunate to have the Walk supported by Porter Dodson and its employees. Every year they come out come rain or shine and take part in the county’s largest organised walk to enjoy some gentle exercise in the beautiful countryside and raise funds for their local hospice.
Events Fundraiser Brooke Brownlow said:
‘It is amazing to see the level of local support St. Margaret’s receives from about a hundred volunteers who help organize and run the event to the several hundreds of local people across Somerset who take on a personal challenge to walk the route and raise money to support the invaluable work of the hospice and its team of nurses working in communities right across the county providing care to those with life-limiting illnesses. The support is vital to the work of the hospice.’
Vital support from volunteers
This event could not be organised without the support of a fantastic team of volunteers. Since the walk began, St. Margaret’s have had incredible support from the ladies at the Trefoil Guild. Every year they come out as a team to run the registration point at the Yeovil Hospice and the Langport shop. This year the fundraising team are looking for volunteers to help cover registration points in Taunton & Creech St Michael, please contact the Hospice if you are able to volunteer.
To take part in this year’s Great Somerset Walk register by visiting: www.st-margarets-hospice.org.uk Alternatively, call 0845 345 9671. Registration is just £5 and children under 16 go free (children must be accompanied by an adult). Any sponsorship money you can raise goes towards the invaluable work of our nurses in the hospices and the Somerset community. So, will you take on the Great Somerset Walk to support your local hospice?