On 29 September, friends, families and colleagues will lace up their trainers and walking boots to make the memory of their loved ones shine at City Hospice’s annual Sparkle Walk.
Participants will walk a 10km route, sparkling all the way from Llandaff to Whitchurch and back. Among those taking part is Mark who is walking in memory of his wife Jane who was diagnosed with a brain tumour and sadly passed away in October 2021. City Hospice supported Jane with specialist palliative care during her short illness.
Mark said:
Mark’s wife, Jane
“When Jane was diagnosed, she was determined to stay at home, and it was at this point that we were referred to City Hospice. Our lives had been torn apart and the wonderful people from the hospice provided the support we needed to allow Jane to have her wish.
“They helped us with the most difficult things we ever had to face in our 33 years together; having the difficult conversations and putting things in place to allow us to live out the short time we had left together at home.
“Life limiting illnesses and end of life care is something we don’t like to think about and certainly not talk about. Normalising it and raising awareness that there are incredible people to support you through the most difficult of times is something that has become very important to me and my family.”
Mark, his daughter Emma and other family members took part in the Sparkle Walk last year and, thanks to the generosity of their friends and colleagues, they raised an amazing £3,000 for City Hospice. This year, they are encouraging people to sign up for the event and join them on the walk.
He added:
“The Sparkle Walk is a celebration of life and the opportunity to remember loved ones while helping to provide vital funding for our local hospice. My daughter and I have grown incredibly close since Jane died and spending several hours just walking in the dark last year with many other people with similar experiences was both moving and uplifting.
“Spending time with friends and family and reflecting on Jane’s life is probably the most important thing to look forward to at this years Sparkle Walk. Jane had a real passion for supporting others, particularly those with disabilities. At work she was a disability champion and co-chair of the disability network. She was known and loved by many, and we really want to spend time with these friends and colleagues sharing stories about Jane and celebrating her life.
“On a personal level, Jane was very much into everything pink and sparkly which is something we’ll be fully embracing on the night of the Sparkle Walk. If you’re there, please come over and say hello. You won’t miss us – we’ll be wearing shirts with Jane’s picture and lit up like Christmas trees!”
The funds raised by the Sparkle Walk will support the work of City Hospice, the only provider of home-based specialist palliative care in the capital. Every pound raised by participants will go further thanks to The Waterloo Foundation, which has pledged to match fund every £1 raised up to a total of £15,000.
