Jan Large from Malvern is preparing to take on a Fire and Lego Walk to raise funds for the charity that cared for her good friend at the end of her life.
Jan said: “I’m doing the Fire and Lego Walk in memory of my friend Virginia, who was cared for by St Richard’s at her home near Upton and then at the hospice.
“I did the Fire Walk a couple of years ago and I got such a buzz doing it! This time, I’m more nervous about the Lego Walk than the hot coals.”
Jan, who is a former nurse and hospice community worker, supported Virginia and her partner Chris when Virginia was diagnosed with incurable cancer and Chris with dementia.
“I became an unofficial carer for Virginia and Chris and walked their terrier, Mabel.
“Virginia desperately wanted to stay at home in her lovely black and white cottage, surrounded by the smallholding she’d created, and the St Richard’s Hospice at Home team enabled her to do that for as long as she could.
“She came into the hospice for the final month of her life and died in December 2023, a few days after her 86th birthday. Both Mabel and I were with her when she died, and Mabel has lived with me ever since.”
“Even though she was initially reluctant to accept help, Virginia was immensely grateful for the care she received from St Richard’s and said how fortunate she felt to have received it.”
Jan became of supporter of St Richard’s as a way of keeping Virginia’s memory alive and as a thank you for the care she received. She’s raised funds for the hospice by taking part in their Lantern Parades, braving a Fire Walk in 2024 and completing a Malvern Hills walk with Mabel.
The Fire Walk is a barefoot walk over red-hot embers measuring about 800 degrees Fahrenheit. The Lego Walk is a family-friendly barefoot walk across Lego.
The Fire and Lego Walks take place on Saturday, 24 October at St Richard’s Hospice. To book, visit www.strichards.org.uk/event/firelegowalk.
St Richard’s Hospice is an independent charity offering free, expert care for adults with an illness that cannot be cured, and support for their loved ones and carers.
Each year the hospice team supports more than 3,000 patients, family members and bereaved people in Worcestershire.
It will cost in the region of £12m to run the hospice this year, which includes patient care and all the necessary support services.
St Richard’s relies on voluntary support, including from donations, gifts in Wills, retail and events for the majority of its income with the remainder funded by the NHS.
For more information about St Richard’s Hospice visit www.strichards.org.uk