Banwell woman set to walk 40 miles for Weston Hospicecare

A woman from Banwell is preparing to walk 40 miles over the Mendip Hills to raise money for North Somerset’s biggest charity.

 

Liz Blyth is taking part in the annual Weston Hospicecare Mendip Challenge which she has done every year for the past 20 years.

 

But she wants to do something different for 2010 because it is the 20th anniversary of the event, and so has decided to set herself her own challenge to walk 40 miles.

 

Weston Hospicecare is launching an appeal for walkers of all ages and abilities to take part in the sponsored walk to help raise £50,000 to provide care and support to people with life-limiting illnesses in North Somerset and neighbouring parts of Somerset.

 

The event is open to anybody who wants to do something memorable to help the hospice and entrants can walk the distance that suits them with their families, friends or work colleagues -  and they can even bring the dog. Walkers can register as individuals or as part of a team.

 

The Mendip Challenge takes place on June 6 and is particularly special this year as the charity is celebrating its 20th birthday year.

 

Liz, aged 64, has always been a keen walker and while she worked as a receptionist at the Wrington and Churchill Doctors’ Surgery, has usually been able to get a team to take part in the event.

And she is urging others to sign up and take part at whatever distance they feel comfortable with.

 

Liz said: “I have always really enjoyed the event because of the challenge but also the sense of achievement you get at the end and the euphoria of finishing something like that with your team.

 

“It is a great day to enjoy with friends, especially if the weather is fine, but even if it is raining or bad weather, the atmosphere among the walkers is fantastic and the scenery of the Mendips is absolutely beautiful.

 

“I have done it every year since it started and this year I wanted to just give myself more of a challenge so I thought why not go for 40?”

 

There are three main routes and a fun walk to take part in on the day. The longest is 30 miles and organisers recommend some training for that distance. The other two routes are easier on the legs at 20 and 10 miles, although these may still be challenging depending on your own level of fitness so it is important to be prepared for whichever route you take on.  The fun walk is five miles.

 

The charity is also giving people the chance to go ‘the extra mile’ and extend their route by one mile to help raise more money.

 

Thousands of people have taken part in the walk through the West Mendip Way down the years and have helped to pay for medication and treatment to help ease the pain of those living with life-limiting illnesses. Weston Hospicecare provides care for about 1000 people each year in their own homes, as well as at the ten bed In-Patient Unit at Uphill.

 

Liz, who is married and has two grown up sons, also volunteers at the hospice by working on reception and in other roles.

 

She  added: “I have always supported the hospice because working in the surgery I’ve been very aware of the work they do so I feel very strongly about giving them as much support as I can and I really want to encourage others to do the same.”

 

Walkers will be able to celebrate their achievement with a barbecue and well-earned drink at the end of the event.

 

Olly Joseph, from Weston Hospicecare, said: “We are aiming to raise £50,000 through the 20th Mendip Challenge in June, and we are calling on the community to sign up to help people with life-limiting illnesses to live pain free.

 

“For every £20 you raise you will be helping someone to live pain free for a whole day. If you can raise £600 your efforts will have kept the whole of our In-Patient Unit pain free for an entire month or paid for 10 people to participate in our Day Hospice session. You can help by adding lives to days, when days cannot be added to lives.”

 

To take part in the event you can register online at www.westonhospicecare.org.uk, or call 01934 423960 for more information and to find out where to pick up an entry form.

Closing date for entries is May 26, 2010.