Tanya Baddeley

New year, new challenge! Register now for the 2025 Oakhaven Walk!

1 January 2025 by Tanya Baddeley

Walkers along the south coast of England taking part in the Oakhaven Walk

New Year, New Challenge: Register Now For The 2025 Oakhaven Walk

Looking for a challenge for 2025? Get set for The Oakhaven Walk!

Taking place on Saturday 17th May, this fundraising promenade along the spectacular Dorset and Hampshire coast is the perfect challenge for the New Year, providing the opportunity to get out and enjoy our beautiful local shoreline with friends, family or colleagues whilst raising much-needed funds for Oakhaven Hospice.

Choose to walk one of three distances along stunning seafront and coastal paths to Oakhaven - approximately 26 miles from Sandbanks, 14 miles from Mudeford or 8 miles from Barton-on-Sea.

From 1st - 31st January you can benefit from special ‘Early Bird’ registration prices!

Registration opens on 1st January at www.oakhavenhospice.co.uk/oakhaven-walk, with ‘Early Bird’ prices available until 31st January:

26 miles from Sandbanks to Oakhaven: £20.00 (+ optional £12.00 coach transfer)
14 miles from Mudeford to Oakhaven: £17.50
8 miles from Barton-on-Sea to Oakhaven: £15.00

The registration fee includes a technical T-shirt to wear on the day, snacks and water at selected points for all distances, lunch for those walking 26 miles, plus refreshments at the finish line.

Entrants are asked to commit to raising a suggested minimum of £150 in sponsorship for Oakhaven Hospice. All funds raised will help Oakhaven to continue providing palliative care and support to patients and their families throughout the New Forest, Totton and Waterside communities, free of charge.

As well as ten beds in its Inpatient Unit, Oakhaven cares for patients with life-limiting illnesses in their own homes - currently an average of 420 at any time. In addition, thousands of local people receive support and guidance from Oakhaven Wellbeing at the Coates Centre, following the diagnosis of a life-limiting illness, whilst caring for a loved one, and in bereavement.

Oakhaven’s running costs amount to over £8 million each year. With just 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 provider, Oakhaven Care Ltd, to cover the remaining 89% of costs.

Laura Eastwood, Oakhaven’s Director of Fundraising, said, “In 2024, we were delighted to welcome over 480 people on our popular coastal walk, which raised a fabulous £110,000 for the charity. This year, we hope to welcome even more participants. The registration fee covers the costs of the event, and therefore, every penny raised in sponsorship will help to make a difference to local people with a life-limiting illness and their families - supporting our communities from diagnosis to bereavement.”

The Oakhaven Walk provides a great way to start 2025 - challenge yourself to train for and participate in a great outdoor activity while supporting a vital local cause.

Care for a Cuppa

Could you host a coffee morning or tea party to help raise funds for Oakhaven Hospice?

The Mermaid Ball

Dinner Dance at the Balmer Lawn Hotel in aid of Oakhaven Hospice on Saturday 1st February.

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The Oakhaven Walk

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Over £12,000 raised in memory of Garry Nuth

11 December 2024 by Tanya Baddeley

The Nuth family present their cheque to Oakhaven Hospice

Over £12,000 raised for Oakhaven Hospice in memory of Garry Nuth

The son of a man who passed away has honoured his father's final wish by raising funds for Oakhaven Hospice, where he received compassionate care in his final days.

Joe Nuth set himself a fundraising challenge in memory of his father, Garry Nuth, and last week delighted the staff of Oakhaven Hospice by delivering a cheque for £12,046.67.

As Garry passed away at the age of 72, Joe took on a 72-mile sporting challenge on 19th October, which included a 50-mile bike ride, a 10-mile row and a 10-mile run, finishing the day with a two-mile walk alongside Garry’s friends and family.

The following week, Joe and the family held a charity fundraising evening at Hayes Rugby Club in Garry’s honour.

The family said: “On the 23rd July, “the King of our family” sadly lost his battle with cancer. He was loved by all and was always so loving to friends and family. Those who knew him would know how kind and generous he was by always putting others first. One of our Dad's last wishes was to raise money for Oakhaven Hospice, so we promised him we would.”

Garry was a husband, father of three and grandfather of nine. For nearly 50 years, Garry worked as a baggage handler at Heathrow Airport. However, his family frequently visited the New Forest area on family holidays, and in retirement, he and his wife Sonia decided to move to New Milton to live in their "dream home.”

Joe’s brother, Adam Nuth, said: "The relief the Hospice gave to my Mum was incredible. The knowledge they had was remarkable; I always say they were nurses times ten! And so, my brother, Joe, completed this challenge to give thanks to them, I am incredibly proud of Joe.”

On their JustGiving page, the family said: “Our dad was compassionately looked after by the wonderful staff at Oakhaven Hospice in his final days. Oakhaven made our Dad and our family feel very welcome from the moment we arrived to the moment we all left. This kind of Hospice relies on generous donations to provide the much-needed support to patients and their families in their most difficult times. Half the staff we spoke to were volunteers and they are just there to help, which goes to show how much they care. The Hospice is always in need of new equipment to make those final days of life as comfortable as possible, and it would mean the world to us if we could pay our gratitude forward to the next family.”

For over thirty years, Oakhaven Hospice in Lymington has provided palliative care and support to patients at end of life, and their families. In addition to patient referrals, Oakhaven provides specialist support to everyone in the New Forest, Totton and Waterside communities who is navigating a life-limiting illness, caring for a loved one or coming to terms with a loss.

Oakhaven’s Community and Events Manager, Jill West, said: “Many, many thanks to Joe and all the Nuth family and friends who have raised this fantastic amount of money. Oakhaven provides its care free of charge, yet just 11% of its costs are covered by the NHS. For the remainder, it relies on the kindness of donations, fundraising, gifts in wills and income from its shops and social enterprise, Oakhaven Care Ltd. Your support will help our team to make every moment matter for patients and their loved ones.”