Merton residents can celebrate the end of summer raising money for charity by taking part in Marie Curie Cancer Care’s Walk Ten event on Saturday.
By Reaz Kurimbux
Merton residents can celebrate the end of summer raising money for charity by taking part in Marie Curie Cancer Care’s Walk Ten event on Saturday.
The 10km walk begins at Richmond Park at 6.00pm, finishing at 10.00pm – the time when the Marie Curie nurses across the country begin their shifts.
Walkers, who are encouraged to bring their own picnic, will be treated to entertainment from stilt walkers and magicians, as well as giant board games and an opportunity to learn to hula hoop.
Claire Moss, Marie Curie’s Community Fundraising Manager, said: “I think the walk this weekend is going to be fantastic.
“There will be a great atmosphere.”
The event is taking place to honour Marie Curie’s nurses and to raise money to help them continue caring for terminally ill patients.
Marie Curie Nurse Honor Wright said: “We can’t do this without the generous support of those who raise funds for us.”
Walk Ten will culminate with a speech from a nurse and a display of memory lanterns to mark the start of the 10.00pm nursing shift.
Ms Moss said: “I think the 10.00pm display of memory lanterns and speech from a nurse is going to be really poignant and I can’t wait.”
To be a part of Walk Ten, the cost is £10 for adults, which includes a free T-shirt, while it is free for under-16s.
Marie Curie has asked everyone wishing to take part to raise £100, which will help provide five hours of nursing care for terminally-ill patients in their own homes.
“Our family had firsthand experience of what a great job the Marie Curie nurses do when they helped care for my father during his final days battling pancreatic cancer,” walker Jay Valenza, from Twickenham, said.
“The walk will be a great opportunity to make people aware of and raise some money for this great charity.”
Marie Curie nurses provide care and support free or charge, caring for patients through the night and giving carers an opportunity to rest.
Last year in Sutton and Merton Marie Curie nurses cared for 150 people and provided 6,841 hours of nursing care.
Although all this care was completely free for patients and their families, it cost Marie Curie £136,820 to provide.
Over 350 people have signed up already, but there are still a few places left on the walk.
For more information visit www.mariecurie.org.uk/walkten, or contact Claire Moss on 07799 693839 or [email protected].
