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Midnight to remember in Horsham
SITTING in a towelling robe after a warm bath, I am reminded of an evening I will hold in my heart for a long time to come.
I can't quite believe that, at midnight, on June 20 I began a journey of 13 miles through Horsham which culminated for me at 4.30am this morning in the Park. This was my very first Midnight Walk for St Catherine's Hospice.
So what of it, some may ask, especially those who have been in training and who do amazing things on a regular basis, such as the London Marathon and bike rides and fierce challenges to raise money for a number of other equally deserving causes.
But, I am reaching out to those of you, men and women alike, who feel that sometimes such feats literally ware a "step too far" and who can't imagine coming out of their comfort zone, for a myriad of reasons.
Certainly, I was one of them. I have a family and a full-time and often physically demanding career, which necessitates me working long hours and many evenings.
But, like so many others, I have been touched by people's stories of the tragedy of losing a loved one and I decided that, with the benefit of good health, and the luxury of time, I should take a step into the unknown and do something which offered not only a personal challenge to me but which, by sponsorship, could pay for maybe a few extra hours of nursing comfort to someone in St Catherine's or an opportunity to spend valuable time with a loved one in warm and peaceful surroundings with staff who are dedicated and compassionate and understanding of a family's needs.
Without those 1,000 or so women who walked with me last night, most of whom were raising funds, we might not be able to have the benefits of what our local hospice can offer at a time of great need.
I was astounded by the age range of the walkers last night; from teens to seventies and probably even more mature than that.
For anyone who is alone, or lonely, for someone who needs a personal goal or wants to put something back into our community, I cannot recommend highly enough that walking is a great, social exercise to boost the spirit, as well as fitness levels, to say nothing of the funds which go to the Hospice.
To everyone who certainly kept me going; my family, my clients, friends, my co-walkers, the marshals (and the kind people who helped pick me up and dust me off when I fell in Pondtail Road at 3.30am and the taxi driver who offered me a lift which I didn't accept as I was a woman with a mission!) a huge thank you.
Donations are still coming in but I think I will top 600.
And next year? Sign me up!
DEBBIE PICKLES
Massage and Beauty Therapist
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Weather for Horsham
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Thunderstorm
Temperature: 14 C to 26 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: East
