Prospect supporters walk 26 miles across London for marathon fundraising challenge

We’ve all heard of walking a mile in someone’s shoes, but how about walking 26.2 miles?

That’s what sixteen Prospect Hospice’s supporters did to raise money for the Hospice. Three groups took on a 26.2 mile walk around London to raise money in memory for loved ones.

One group, Jackie Ruffell, stepdaughters Abby and Laura, and family members and friends Jane, Leigh and Zara all took up the challenge of walking the distance of a marathon to raise money in memory of Jackie’s sister, Vanessa Hobbs, or Ness as she was known. Prospect Hospice cared for Ness partly at home, but mainly in our Inpatient Unit in Wroughton.

Jackie’s lasting memory of our care was very positive: “There was so much laughter and joy in the hospice, with all the staff, and the care was amazing,” she says. “There were always lots of doctors and nurses around and everyone made all the family, not just Ness, feel incredibly comfortable.”

Ness’s family and friends didn’t only take part in the marathon walk; there was also a cake and sausage roll sale at Nationwide Building Society, where Abby and Laura work, and Nationwide even match-funded £500. About £4,000 was raised in total. According to Jackie, there’s more fundraising on the horizon: “We’re not finished yet,” she says. “The donations are still coming in, and we’re already looking at what we can do this year. We’ve an eye on the Starlight Walk as a great event we could all do together”