THE 18 trekkers who walked 40 miles of the Great Wall of China raising funds for St Clare Hospice are now all safely home.o

Miranda Bowen, the director of nursing at the hospice, was one of the walkers and described the challenge as an "exhilarating and amazing experience".

She said: "The wall stretching for miles with its many watch towers was a sight that will remain in my memory for a long, long time."

The group all did marvellously in completing the challenge to a finish line decked with named hospice t-shirts and Chinese firecrackers and we can wear the 'I climbed the Great Wall of China' t-shirts with pride.

The net amount raised is still unknown but in total for all the 73 walkers who took part, an estimated £150,000 will have been raised for the six hospices represented.

If you sponsored any of the walkers you will, no doubt, be contacted shortly.

A similar challenge is hoped to be arranged for 2003-04 in a different location in the world.

If you are interested, please ring the hospice on 01279 413590.

The jubilee garden party was another success for St Clare Hospice.

The weather was good and guests could enjoy outdoor performances from both the Harlow Concert Band and pianist Mark Brown, while enjoying a glass of wine with strawberries and cream.

The World Cup Final was even available for watching.

Many thanks to those who supported the event and helped to raise £650.

Once again the sunflower street collections have been very successful.

In Harlow town centre and outside Harlow Sainsbury's on June 27 and 28, the collections generated £576.94 and £762.53 respectively.

Sainsbury in Loughton also agreed to a collection for the hospice and the collection raised £454.22 Thank you for supporting our collectors once again.

The latest hospice newsletter is now available with articles featuring past and future events. If you wish to receive a copy, contact fundraising on 01279 413590.

In the past, receipts and acknowledgements have been sent within a three-day period.

However the hospice is still in the process of updating its database and the turnaround is rather longer at the moment while members of staff are familiarising themselves with the new programs.

We do hope this has not caused too much inconvenience to our supporters.

Nigel Hanbury, the husband of one of our nurses, pedalled his way down to Brighton from London and raised £236.50 in sponsorship from his bike ride.

Harlow Council Club raised a further £295 during the World Cup. Meanwhile Epping Parochial Church Council collected £171.11 in its retiring collection and the Probus Club £258 in its.

The Greville Theatre, near Dunmow, donated £280 after a performance of The Day After the Fair with a further £142.05 from the raffle.

The various ways that individuals and groups raise funds are always of interest to us and irrespective of amounts given to help towards the annual costs of £1.1m, each donation is very special and received with very grateful thanks.

Nazeing Handicapped Association for the Elderly held a jubilee mini-market and very kindly and generously donated £500 to St Clare.

Buckhurst Hill Parish Council held a sale of teacloths which brought in £50 as did the parents of the 4th Tye Green Brownies who held a coffee evening and bring and buy sale.

Many thanks for all the hard work which so many people need to put into such events and for thinking of St Clare Hospice to benefit from them.

July 18, 2002 08:30