Galway Hospice will hold its 10th annual Galway Memorial Walk on Sunday September 13. This year’s walk will begin at 12 noon from the Claddagh Hall, following the traditional coastal route to Blackrock and return — a total distance of 6.5km.
The Memorial Walk is Galway Hospice’s biggest annual fundraising event, and it has become a very special and deeply personal event for the people of Galway. The organisers hope that, as this is the 10th year of the walk, people will be out in huge numbers to walk in memory of their loved ones.
Those who take part in the Galway Memorial Walk do so in remembrance of a deceased family member, friend, or work colleague, with many participants wearing the name of their loved one on specially personalised T-shirts, provided by the hospice. Those wishing to take part in this year’s memorial walk must register in advance. The closing date for participants requiring personalised T-shirts is Friday August 28.
Demand for hospice services has continued to increase since last year’s walk. To meet this need, additional specialist nurses have been appointed to the home care team, and work is imminent on the construction of six additional single inpatient rooms at the hospice in Renmore.
“Without the generosity of the people of Galway, none of these developments would have been possible,” said Michael Craig, fundraising manager of Galway Hospice. “We expect the six additional inpatient rooms to be operational in just a few months’ time.
“The ongoing work on the new entrance to the hospice from the main Dublin Road, together with additional parking spaces, will make it much easier for patients and the public to access the hospice, and find convenient parking,” he added.
“The Galway Memorial Walk is an opportunity for people to walk and remember their loved ones,” said Mary Nash, CEO of Galway Hospice. “To watch the sea of white T-shirts trailing along the Prom is both emotional and uplifting. It is also an opportunity for people, through their sponsorship, to help ensure the ongoing free availability of hospice care for those who need the services in to the future.”
The Galway Hospice has also warned against bogus collectors in the run-up to the walk, and is advising people to only sponsor people they know. “Sadly, in recent years a number of bogus collectors have been going door to door claiming to be collecting for the hospice,” said Michael Craig. “We urge the public to be vigilant and to only subscribe to someone they know. The hospice discourages people from sponsoring anyone they do not know, through messages printed on hospice sponsorship cards.”
For more information on how to register for the 2015 Galway Memorial Walk contact Galway Hospice on 091 770868, email [email protected], or visit www.galwayhospice.ie
