A team of 10 hiked 40 kilometres over snow, through forest, and along stony trails, climbing 2,215 metres in elevation, to raise £16,621 and counting for St Richard’s Hospice.
A team of 10 hiked 40 kilometres over snow, through forest, and along stony trails, climbing 2,215 metres in elevation, to raise £16,621 and counting for St Richard’s Hospice.
The group set off on Saturday, June 14 in Italy, walking a section of the Tour du Mont Blanc trail to Switzerland and then finishing in France on Monday, June 16.
Sofia Gunster, Events and Community Fundraising Lead at the Worcester-based hospice, said: “I am incredibly proud of every single one of our trekkers and hope they are proud of themselves, too.
“It was a privilege to lead this trek for the hospice, not only raising vital funds for our care – but also helping our trekkers discover just how strong and capable they truly are.”
Among the trek team were hospice In-patient Unit nurses Becky Harding, Nicci Lane, and Jan Efiong, and Chaplain Sarah Bruce.
Sarah said: “Leading up to the trek my attitude was: whatever challenges we experience, they will not be as challenging as those our patients and families face as they deal with a life limiting illness.
“The trek was a super way of getting to know colleagues better, and to meet other participants who were doing it because someone in their family had been cared for by St Richard’s staff in the community on in our In-patient Unit.
“I had no experience of trekking, so I did not know what to expect. We experienced walking across an avalanche, crossing a fast-flowing wide stream, uphill over boulders and along valleys.
“I am so delighted we have collectively raised such an amazing amount for St Richard’s, helping us continue to be there for patients and families into the future.”
The funds raised by the team will help the hospice continue to fund its care to patients living with illnesses that cannot be cured and support for their loved ones.
The hospice is running its next overseas trek challenge in October 2026 taking on a section of The Great Wall of China.
To find out more about this challenge, and to sign-up, visit www.strichards.org.uk/event/chinatrek