A hospice patient recently set herself the daunting challenge of walking the length of the in-patient unit at Northern Ireland Hospice in order to raise vital funds for the ‘Hospice Walk Extra’ fundraising challenge which took place on Saturday 16th June.

June Pullinger is a remarkable 58 year old woman from Antrim who is living with incurable cancer and although currently receiving care in the hospice, was nevertheless determined to do her bit to help raise funds for the charity. Already she has £500 raised and hopes even more sponsorship money will still come in.

Although June has been very ill she did not allow this to dampen her determination to achieve the challenge she had set for herself, which was to walk the length of the in-patient unit corridor at the hospice. Her walk was sponsored by the nursing staff at hospice as well as by friends, and family who all dug deep to ensure June’s walk raised lots of money for the hospice, which depends so much on donations from the general public in order to maintain services of care in the community and at the hospice itself in Somerton Road, Belfast.

When asked what made her decide to take on this massive physical challenge, June replied “I am so grateful for the wonderful care that I have received at the hospice, so when I overheard two nurses at hospice talking about the Walk Extra I decided to ask them to get me the details so that I could take part too and help hospice. I was aware that on my own I would be unable to do this walk but my Christian faith is strong and I knew I would receive the extra strength I would need on the day”

Commenting on June’s involvement, Joanna Pawson, Hospice Walk Extra co-ordinator said “ We were all very touched to hear of June’s plans to walk for hospice and everyone in the organisation rallied around to ensure that June’s walk was a great success. Olivia Nash our Vice President and the public face of the Hospice Walks met with June just before she began her walk challenge and gave her lots of encouragement, whilst our nursing staff also were on hand to support in any way they could to make sure June was able to achieve her challenge. June’s family were also present to cheer her on her way.”

If you would like to sponsor Jean’s walk please send your donation made payable to ‘Northern Ireland Care’ to: Jean’s Walk Extra , C/o. Northern Ireland Hospice Care, 18, O’Neill Road, Newtownabbey BT36 6WB, or make a credit card donation on-line for Jean at : www.justgiving.com/junepullinger