Dorothy House Hospice Care invites families to take part in their 5km sponsored Dusk Memory Walk from the hospice grounds in Winsley on Saturday, 28th April. The Walk starts at 7 p.m., with Walkers invited to arrive from 6 p.m.

The Dusk Memory Walk is a special way of remembering loved ones at the same time as supporting the Hospice to continue providing palliative and end of life care to patients and vital support to their families. The Walk consists of a gentle 5km stroll through stunning countryside and is open to all members of the family including the dog. It follows a picturesque and circular route along footpaths, fields and the Kennet and Avon canal as well as featuring a hill at the end to challenge your fitness.

On returning to the hospice after the Walk visitors can spend time with friends and family while enjoying some refreshments. All Walkers are given a dedication label to wear and a candle bag to decorate with personal messages to their loved ones. All the decorated candle bags will be lit up in the hospice garden as dusk falls for Walkers to view.

To sign up for the walk, visit: www.dorothyhouse.org.uk/events/dusk-memory-walk before entries close at 5 p.m. on Thursday, 26th April.

Emily Knight, Event Fundraiser at Dorothy House Hospice Care said: “The Dusk Memory Walk is a special opportunity to remember a loved one, meet like-minded people and support the Hospice. Last year the event attracted over 200 walkers and this year we are keen to increase the numbers attending this family-friendly event as for every £1 we receive from the NHS we have to raise a further £4.”

Alan Nairn, from Devizes, said:”I am taking part in the walk with my twelve-year-old granddaughter, Tamzin, in memory of my wife Sandra who was cared for by Dorothy House before she died earlier this year. I found the walk really uplifting last year, it was a gorgeous sunny afternoon and I had some great conversations with other walkers. Tamzin is excited about the walk and is busy raising sponsorship money at school and decorating a candle bag for Sandra, it’ll be a great chance for us to remember a very special lady.”

Jeanette Flower, from Shepton Mallet, is taking part in the Dusk Memory Walk, and said: “I’m walking in memory of my husband, Mark Flower, who died in January 2017, after being cared for beautifully by Dorothy House. I can’t praise them enough for the kind way they looked after Mark and our family and for their ongoing support at the Coffee Club group at their Peasedown Outreach Centre where I’ve made lovely friends. I will continue to support the hospice in every way I can and I plan to take part in the Memory Walk every year, it’s a great opportunity to reflect on happy memories with Mark who loved travelling and flying gliders.”