Member Article

Meadowhall step it up for St Lukes Hospice

MEADOWHALL PUTS ITS BEST FOOT FORWARD FOR ST LUKE’S HOSPICE

Meadowhall Shopping Centre has made great strides to raise much-needed funds for its charity of the year St Luke’s Hospice, after staff completed a gruelling 90-mile walk along the full length of Hadrian’s Wall, with Lauren Callaghan a commercialisation executive at the centre resorting to walking the final 20 miles in her flip-flops! The 15-strong group, including staff from St Luke’s, set off en-masse and took four days of steady marching to complete; starting in Bowness on Solway on the west coast to Wallsend on the east.

The team has already raised more than £8,000 with more expected in donations over the coming days which could top the £10,000 mark.

Darren Pearce, Meadowhall Centre Director, said “It was quite a gruelling four day’s of hiking but the breath-taking scenery helped us along the way. We are delighted with the amount raised so far and well worth a few blisters and aching muscles!”

As well as St Luke’s staff Jack Kidder and Greg Van Heeswijk taking part, the thoughtful charity made sure there were encouraging parcels waiting for the group after each arduous day – blisters packs on Day One; energy boosting flapjack from the St Luke’s catering team on Day Two; Ear Plugs for a good night’s sleep on Day Three and then a rallying video message on Day Four.

Peter Hartland, Chief Executive for the Hospice, said: “We are absolutely delighted that the hike was a success. We would like to thank the group from Meadowhall for the dedication and commitment to St Luke’s by taking part in such a gruelling challenge, and raising such a fantastic amount of money.”

St Luke’s Hospice is Meadowhall’s charity of the year and cares for people throughout Sheffield who have incurable illnesses. The charity aims to control patients’ symptoms, alleviate pain, and give them the best possible quality of life.

The charity hike is just one of several fund-raising activities taking place throughout 2015 – a special year for Meadowhall as it celebrates its 25th anniversary of opening, on September 4th.

Hadrian’s Wall was built by the Romans in the 2nd century AD, taking six years to build. Its purpose was to mark the northern extent of the Roman Empire, which then covered much of Europe. The Romans also built 16 forts along the length of the wall, the remains of which can also be seen today.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by MK Things Happen .