Leyland ex-pat returns home from Madrid to take on our Moonlight and Memories Walk

A Leyland ex-pat will journey 1,300 miles back to her hometown this summer, so she can take on the St Catherine’s Hospice Moonlight and Memories Walk.

Financial editor Sue Sharples lives in Madrid with her photographer husband Sigefredo, and is planning a special trip to see family and friends this July, making sure to take part in the charity’s biggest annual fundraiser during the visit.

The couple was already planning to return to Lancashire to celebrate their niece’s wedding on the 4^th July. But after experiencing the ‘marvellous’ and ‘loving’ care Sue’s sister received during her final days at St Catherine’s in March, they have now vowed to make the journey earlier to support the hospice walk on 1^st July.

Sue said: “My sister, Caron Noblett, died at St Catherine’s after 11 days staying on the hospice’s inpatient unit. I was with her during that time, along with my husband and Caron’s husband, their daughter and her fiancé, plus many other family and friends.

“Everyone at St Catherine’s was absolutely marvellous, from the loving way in which they cared for Caron at all times of day and night, to putting up with a constant stream of visitors, or giving me a hug when I most needed it.

“I really cannot think of a better place for anyone to be in that situation, or better people to be surrounded by. St Catherine’s made a terrible situation more bearable and we are all extremely grateful that Caron was able to spend her last days there.”

Sue moved to Madrid in 1987, and the Spanish heat has been a testing environment for the couple’s Moonlight and Memories Walk training. She and Sigefredo will be joined by Caron’s husband Jared as they take on the 10-mile night time trek.

“We were planning to come over to England for my niece’s wedding, but have altered our travel plans so we can do the walk as well,” she said. “We’ll be arriving a few days before the walk so we can get some practice in with Jared, and it will be a nice change from training in the Madrid heat!”

The walk begins at 10pm from the grounds of St Catherine’s Park on Saturday 1^st July, with walkers invited to arrive from 7.30pm to take part in warm-up sessions, make a dedication on a memory tree, accessorise for the event, and fuel up on refreshments from The Mill café.

St Catherine’s fundraiser Hayley Jackson said: “We are constantly amazed and continually grateful when we hear how people go above and beyond to support St Catherine’s. What a meaningful tribute to Sue’s beloved sister that she and Sigefredo are going to such lengths to be part of the St Catherine’s community on our very special night.

“We know how much the Moonlight and Memories Walk means to people as they raise vital funds and awareness for the hospice whilst remembering loved ones and supporting one another. It’s also a vital means of fundraising, without which our dedicated doctors, nurses, therapists and social workers wouldn’t be able to continue providing their specialist and compassionate end-of-life care to local people.”

• To sign up for the walk, please click here or call 01772 324540. To book a table at The Mill on the night, email themill@stcatherinespark.co.uk or call 01772 695277.

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