Trekkers prepare for Great Wall Challenge

October sees the start of a potentially epic adventure for Hospiscare volunteer Heatherbelle Bates and Hospiscare fundraiser Charlotte Knipe.

For on 8th October, the intrepid duo are going to China for the Great Wall Challenge, China Trek, a 9 day adventure following the Great Wall of China to help raise funds for Hospiscare.

Eager to be prepared, the trekkers brought along black Labrador Luca for a local warm up walk on Wednesday 22nd June.

The training walk, which took in part of the Exe Valley Trail, started down at the Quay in Exeter and was a 20 mile round trip to Starcross before going over on the ferry to Exmouth and back up to Exeter via Topsham and Lympstone. Happily, they were walking around the very areas where Hospiscare does much of its work and received a warm welcome from many keen supporters of the charity along the way.

Heatherbelle reflected: “The training walk took 9 hours. It was good practice to be walking for the actual length of time that the group will be walking each day in China. The team have been getting together for regular training walks and we have met a lot of people”.

While some would be wary of taking on such a challenge, Heatherbelle is clear on why they both want to do it. “This event appealed because of the opportunity to raise a significant amount for Hospiscare,” Heatherbelle said.

“Each person on the China Trek needs to raise £3,000.”  But there is a final dimension too:  “It is a major personal challenge,” she admits.

If you want to provide a donation in support of Heatherbelle and Charlotte’s Great Wall Challenge go to either www.justgiving.com/charlotteknipe or www.justgiving.com/heatherbelle-bates

Hospiscare is a local charity, providing free, high quality care and support to people with a progressive life-limiting illness, and those close to them in Exeter, East and Mid Devon.