Published on: Monday 26 Feb 2018 at 12:40
St Clare’s 5k dog walk is barking success
From Beagles to Bulldogs, and Sausage Dogs to Schnauzers, more than 100 dogs joined St Clare Hospice’s annual Winter Walkies event on Sunday 25th February.
At the head of the pack was the winner of the Hospice’s Cutest Canine competition, Milo the Cockapoo puppy, who led more than 250 walkers out the gates of the Hastingwood-based Hospice for the sponsored 5km countryside stroll. This year’s Winter Walkies fundraising event is expected to raise over £5,000 for St Clare once all sponsorship money has been received.
There were plenty of wagging tails as the pets and their owners set off at 11.00am, making their way down into Hastingwood and across the beautiful Essex countryside. Amongst the participants was St Clare Patron, Dame Claire Bertschinger DBE DL, Deputy Lieutenant of Hertfordshire, who took part with her two Bichon Frise.
Commenting on the event Dame Claire said: “Winter Walkies is a great community event. I can’t think of a nicer way to raise funds for St Clare than by taking part in a walk with dozens of other dog lovers and their pets across the beautiful countryside around the Hospice. My dogs loved being with so many other dogs of all shapes and sizes, and it was actually very moving to see hundreds of people gathered in support of St Clare.”
The event organiser, St Clare Challenges and Events Fundraiser, Emma Broadbent said: “This was the twelfth year that we have organised Winter Walkies and it continues to be our best loved event, with hundreds of four-legged friends and their humans taking part. It really was a sight to see so many happy wagging tails held aloft as the dogs set off out the Hospice gate.”
Emma continued: “It was a privilege to organise such a fun event and to see so many people from our local community joining forces to help raise money and awareness for their local hospice. We’d like to thank everyone who came along or supported the event, helping us raise much-needed funds so we can provide our skilled and compassionate care to every local family who needs us – and we look forward to setting the bar even higher for next year!”
This year’s event was kindly sponsored by Forest Veterinary Centre of Epping.
