Blackmore fayre

Had a really successful few days at the Blackmore fayre. We opened the garden up and sold teas, cakes and sandwiches. Annie and I spent the whole of Saturday baking. Paul sold balloons for the balloon race.The fayre raised £1174 for the hospices, which reflects the generosity of the local community -thank you!! Thanks to all our lovely helpers too!!
The total for the fundraising so far although after such a busy weekend not a large amount of energy left!!

Visit to Little Haven's

We visited Little Haven's Children's Hospice and were given a tour by Peter - thank you for your time!
It is truly a special place. The atmosphere is uplifting, calm and happy. The rooms are beautifully decorated and the attention to detail is perfect. All ages of children are catered for - for example there is a fantastic art room, pool, patios with all the bedrooms, a teen den and family apartment and so on. It is not just the children that have been thought of, attention has been given to their parents and siblings. The cost for a family to stay for one week is £5000. It has given us further impetuous to raise money.
The bereavement suite was particularly moving but I found the most moving aspect was that they can provide Christmas on any day of the year if that is what the family want.
The gardens are also impressive and maintained by an army of volunteers.
Little Havens does have open days throughout the year -if you get the opportunity do visit.
Jane

Poor Annie

Spent last night in A and E - Annie has fractured her ankle. Not good preparation for the walk!! Back at the fracture clinic today. Paul skiing this week so hopefully only one cast in the Horti house,
Jane

Training started

Have been trying to get the training started. Yesterday had  short walk -3 miles. Sadly this is the longest Maisie (our old labrador) can do without collapsing. Today we had to creep out of the house without her realising since she gets so excited at the prospect of a walk! Did 8.5 miles and the rain started just in time to give us the real Irish training!!!
Jane

website complete! www.500more.org

This is the first blog of our family's charity walk this summer around the coast of Ireland  -1000 miles starting on the 1st July. We want to raise an  amazing amount of money for two children's hospices -Little Haven's in Essex and LauraLynn House in Dublin which will be the first children's hospice in Ireland when it opens this summer.

Preparations now in full swing and have completed (or rather Paul has) website. Do have a look and even better donate.  Any comments gratefully received.

Off for a walk ...
Jane