The Oakhaven Walk 2024 raises £110,000 for end-of-life care and support

The Oakhaven Walk 2024 has raised almost £110,000 to fund the delivery of palliative and end-of-life care and support provided to families throughout the New Forest, Totton and Waterside communities.

The Walk took place on 18th May 2024, with a record-breaking 483 participants walking to Oakhaven Hospice in Lymington from Sandbanks (approx 26 miles), Mudeford (approx 14 miles) and Barton on Sea (approx 8 miles). The sun shone on the walkers, many of whom had packed for the forecast wet weather.

Melanie Stone, Head of Fundraising, said: “Many thanks to everyone who walked and supported our 2024 Oakhaven Walk. You joined together to make every moment matter for your local hospice and have raised a fantastic amount in sponsorship.

“A huge thank you to our amazing Volunteers, without whom the event could not have gone ahead. You kept our walkers going with your smiles and encouragement, pointing them in the right direction, registering them at checkpoints and handing out refreshments at just the right moment.

“We are grateful also to Land & Wave, the Beachcomber Café and Hoburne Naish Holiday Park for welcoming us, to Rapid Relief for providing water and to the Oakhaven Kitchen for the delicious sandwiches.

“And MANY thanks to our event sponsors; Pennyfarthing Homes, Hartwood House, Circle Insurance, New Forest Activities and Richard Griffiths & Co, whose fantastic support has helped to underwrite much of the event cost, meaning that every penny raised in sponsorship by our walkers will directly support families living in our communities.”

Oakhaven Hospice provides specialist palliative care and end-of-life care to patients with a medical referral who live in the New Forest, Totton and Waterside. Demand is growing for Oakhaven’s services; currently, at any time, around 350 patients plus their families receive support in the hospice and/or their homes from the Oakhaven teams, free of charge.

In addition to patient referrals, Oakhaven Wellbeing provides specialist support to everyone in the community who is navigating a life-limiting illness, caring for a loved one or experiencing a loss or bereavement. Last year around 3,200 people visited the Coates Centre to benefit from Oakhaven’s wellbeing support.

All funds raised by the Walk will help to fund Oakhaven’s day-to-day running costs, which last year amounted to £8 million. With only 11% of funding covered by the NHS, your local hospice relies on kind donations, fundraising, gifts in wills and income from its charity shops and home care agency, Oakhaven Care Ltd.

Click here to learn more about how you could help Oakhaven with a donation, fundraising or a gift in your will, or contact the Fundraising Team directly on 01590 677773 or fundraising@oakhavenhospice.co.uk.