Moonlight strollers rise and shine for Sobell House Hospice

A HOSPICE which provides care for terminally ill patients will benefit from a fundraising midnight walk.
Walkers followed the nine-mile route for this year’s Oxford Moonlight Stroll from St Edward’s School into the city before returning to the school in Woodstock Road.
The annual event raises money for the Sobell House Hospice Charity which gives palliative and end-of-life care.
Jill Bradley, of Kennington, took part in the walk after the hospice cared for her father, Alan Pearson, at the Bridge Home Care Home, in Abingdon, before he died aged 89 in May.
The 50-year-old medical physicist, of Bagley Wood Road, said: “It was a big relief to me that a team could come out from Sobell House to direct his care towards the end because he had so many medical needs.
“They just took so much care and attention to find out what he wanted – it was great to know he was getting the best care he could.
“It was a relief for him as well as me.”
Crowds of walkers wearing pyjamas and onesies left the school at 10.30pm before returning by about 1.30am.
The hospice costs about £4 million a year to run and has supported terminally ill patients in Oxfordshire for 40 years.
Another walker was Slimming World consultant Tina Hawkins, 40, of Sycamore Road, Ambrosden.
She said: “It was brilliant. I had such fun looking at the architecture and raising money for a good cause.”
Mrs Bradley added she had raised £450 for the hospice with the help of her friends Dr Avril Maddrell and Helen Morse.
Dr Maddrell from Kennington,50, said: “I thought it was a really well organised event.
“Lots of people got involved with groups of friends and it was really well supported.”