St Johns Hospice officially opened its doors to its community in 1986 and has been open and caring ever since.  Back in April/May 1989, they cared for my late father-in-law Paul who died of cancer aged 37yrs, and the family he left behind - his wife Pamela and his children Daniel and Caroline - my wife. The family have always spoken so warmly about the love and care provided by St Johns Hospice to them as a young family at that time. 

We have been devastated that in October 2020, my mother-in-law Pamela passed, also to cancer, and whilst the Covid circumstances of the year presented many challenges, the Hospice did once again offer support remotely via their outreach team. 

March is the month of Pamela's birthday (31st) so I have decided to combine the numbers representing St John's Hospice 35th Birthday Club (3x5) and the 31 days of March to set myself a 'March march' challenge in honour of both of my late parents-in-law and to say thank you to the Hospice for the care they provided to the family back in its early years (1989) and its most recent years (2020).

On completion of my challenge I will have walked 465km - roughly the distance between where my my in-laws lived in the NE and where they lived in the NW - and back again!

Every day in March I will cover 15k (3x5) through walking a local route and / or by marching around my home and garden! I hope to raise the equivalent of £10 for each day marched so have set my challenge goal to £310 - any contribution, however small, will be warmly received.  You can find out more about the Hospice 35th Birthday Club here https://www.sjhospice.org.uk/35thbirthdayclub/