Men invited to sign up for Hospiscare walk

A local man is encouraging people to come together for the 2014 Hospiscare Men’s Walk to support the local charity who gave ‘outstanding’ care to both his mother and mother-in-law in their final days.

Exmouth based Peter Firth took part in the 2013 Men’s Walk raising more than £750 for local charity Hospiscare.

Peter completed the 10k distance with his brother-in-law Shawn, both walking in memory of their mothers who had died within weeks of each other at the Exeter hospice.

Peter said: “In late 2011, I sadly lost both my mother and mother-in-law to cancer. They were admitted to the Exeter hospice within just a few weeks of each other.

“The level of care provided by Hospiscare was outstanding - nothing was too much trouble for them in their care and support of our mums and our families.”

Peter and Shawn signed up for the 2013 Men’s Walk to show their support and gratitude for the high quality of care they had all received at such a difficult time.

Peter said: “We found Hospiscare highly professional, friendly and attentive, and we felt that our mums were being very well looked after in their last few days and weeks at the hospice.

“My mum worked as a nurse and ward sister, and particularly with her professional knowledge she was highly complimentary about the care and attention from the hospice staff.”

Peter said that while the Hospiscare staff took great care of his mother and mother-in-law, they also helped to support his whole family - even helping his mother-in-law to see her daughter walk down the aisle on her wedding day.

Peter said: “The Exeter hospice very kindly accommodated my sister-in-law's wedding ceremony, at very short notice, so that my mother-in-law could see them get married.

“Everything was arranged with great efficiency and calmness. We were so grateful, and it meant so much to the family. We were taken aback by the wonderful effort the hospice staff put in to make this happen.

“The home visits and care from the Hospiscare staff has also been a great support for my dad, who can't speak highly enough of them and their service.” 

The popular Men’s Walk supported by Wilkinson Grant and Co has been cemented in the Hospiscare calendar since 2011.

While the event is only in its third year, it has proved to be an extremely well-attended event, providing local men with a fun day out whilst raising money to help patients and their families in Exeter, mid and east Devon.

The 2014 Men’s Walk will once again start and finish at Sandy Park - the home of the Exeter Chiefs.

After completing the 10k men-only walk, a free pint and pasty will be available while the walkers relax and enjoy three Six Nations matches on big screens in the Exeter Suite.

Peter said: “[The Men’s Walk] was a really enjoyable, well-run event. We enjoyed the Six Nations rugby match between England and Wales after the walk. We would happily encourage others to take part.

“My brother-in-law and I were both glad to be supporting such a great local charity, having had a personal connection to their work, but also to have fun supporting them too.”