Published on: Thursday 31 May 2018 at 09:01
Congratulations to Meg Martin, who has raised £4,400 for St Clare Hospice after embarking on a 10-day sponsored Himalayan trek!
On 13th April 2018, a St Clare Hospice supporter from Epping began a 10-day trekking challenge through the Himalayan Mountains in Nepal, peaking at Poon Hill Summit at 3,210m altitude.
Meg Martin (62 years, from Coopersale) is an avid supporter of her local hospice charity, St Clare. Over the past eight years Meg has trekked along the Great Wall of China, the Inca Trail in Peru and the Grand Canyon – raising almost £15,000 for St Clare Hospice in the process.
This year Meg has raised over £4,400 in sponsorship from her Himalayan adventure. That’s enough to fund over 45 days of life-changing, rehabilitative occupational therapy for people in West Essex and the borders of East Herts who are living with a life-limiting illness.
In total, Meg has raised almost £20,000 for St Clare Hospice over the years. That is enough to pay for 5 weeks of vital support from our specialist Patient & Family Support team, who offer life-changing practical, psychological, emotional and spiritual support for families facing one of life’s most difficult journeys.
The first couple of days Meg stayed in Nepal were spent acclimatising to the high altitudes that she and the team would be subject to. Meg then trekked for about 7 hours every day for 5 days of the challenge, as she ascended to 3,210m above sea level at the summit of Poon Hill.
When asked about her Himalayan adventure, Meg said:
“It was a great experience to share with lovely members of the group, all of whom had experienced some kind of loss in their lives which had inspired them to do something adventurous to support a charity. Some days were very strenuous, trekking thousands of steps uphill or downhill, with stunning sunrises and sunsets. Then, there was the fun of eating curries every day and coping with very little washing! I can’t wait for my next Charity Trek which will be when I’m 65 and therefore an extra special one. I’m already exploring what’s on offer!”
“My two highlights were reaching the summit of Poon Hill at five o’clock in the morning and watching the sun come up from behind the mountains – stunning! The other was dancing on stage dressed in a Nepalese outfit, with official dancers in a Show!”
Commenting on why she fundraises for St Clare, Meg said:
“My mother and father both died in a hospice, and I’ve never forgotten how compassionate, kind and helpful the staff were. The hospice movement is very dear to me, as not only did they support mum and dad, but they supported us as a family as well. I was quite young when I lost my parents, so the hospice’s help and guidance were vital for me. I want to give something back and make sure others will be supported in years to come, like my family was.”
Congratulate Meg
If you would like to congratulate Meg Martin for her ambitious Himalayan trek in April 2018, and make a donation to St Clare Hospice, please visit Meg’s fundraising page at: https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/MegMartinNepal
