A HOSPICE chief executive will be leading the way as a brand new charity fundraiser steps into the moonlight.
St Teresa’s Hospice’s chief executive Jane Bradshaw will be joined by her sister Gillian Campling on the inaugural Moonlight and Memories Charity Walk on October 18.
Sponsored by their brothers Martin and Ken Campling, they plan to spend the walk laughing and singing as they remember the many good times with their parents Kathleen and Eric Campling, who were both hospice volunteers.
“We lost our mum this June and wanted to do the walk – me with my brand new knees – in memory of them both,” said Jane.
“We are a musical family; my mum’s grandfather founded the Williams music business and my dad was company secretary, as well as a past Rotary Club president and conductor of Coniscliffe Road Operatic Society. So we will be having a good sing song along the way, I’m sure.”
Gillian added: “Only the two of us can make the walk – so we will make our two brothers sponsor us in a big fashion. Death is part of life and we count ourselves so lucky that our parents were 90 when they died. It is so important to hang on to your memories.”
St Teresa’s Hospice relies on commercial, company and individual support to help raise the £3m a year needed to maintain services for the people of Darlington, South Durham and North Yorkshire.
The Moonlight and Memories Charity Walk, sponsored by Bannatyne Health Club and Spa, is the spiritual successor to the former Midnight Walk but is open to everyone, men, women, children and even their dogs.
Around 200 walkers have already signed up for the event which will set off on Friday October 18 at 7pm around South Park and the streets of Darlington.
A particularly poignant feature of the event will allow them to leave the names of their relatives in a special memory glow garden.
Entry fee is £5 or £10 with a commemorative t-shirt. Walkers can register on line now at www.darlingtonhospice.org.uk/moonlight or by email to moonlight@darlingtonhospice.org.uk, or can fill in entry forms available at St T’s charity shops or the hospice.
Jane added: “It’s a different sort of milestone when both your parents have gone and you become the oldest generation. On the one hand it is sad that they are no longer around but we are really looking forward to the walk and sharing all the positive and lovely memories of our parents.”