Dalai Lama India Trek blog: Trekking in memory of family and friends

By Sam Skilton, St Barnabas House Marketing Co-ordinator

Having written primarily about the challenge from a personal perspective in my last Dalai Lama India Trek blog, this one is all about my fellow trekkers.

For those of you who didn’t read the last blog, from 18-28 October a team of around 50 trekkers, myself included, will be taking on the challenge of a lifetime as we take on a 67km trek through the Himalayas in Northern India.

Everyone taking part in the trek is fundraising for St Barnabas House, and almost all the trekkers are doing the challenge in memory or honour of a friend, family member, loved one, colleague, or whoever it may be.

With most of our challenge events for St Barnabas House, it’s usually the case that the majority of people choose take part and fundraise because they have a personal connection to the hospice in one way or another.

One of the trekkers taking part in the Dalai Lama India Trek is Tracey Shaughnessy who is participating in memory of her stepfather, Richard Sampey.

Caption: Richard Sampey sat on a Harley Davidson when Hogsback Chapter visited St Barnabas House

She said: “My dad died when I was 12. Two years later a wonderful man (Richard) came into my life when he married my mum. Over the years we had up and downs but he came to be my close friend and advisor.

“He was diagnosed with COPD six years ago. This disease robbed him of the ability to laugh as it led to stressful coughing. In March 2017 he was referred to the St Barnabas House Day Hospice where he found care, counselling and happiness.

“He died suddenly from a heart attack in Worthing hospital in September 2017, so he never ended his days within the hospice but those short months gave him and, in turn, my mum so much that I wanted to do something to help St Barnabas.”

I was delighted when I heard that Tracey was doing the trek in memory of Richard. I first met Richard not long after he started attending the Day Hospice as he was very keen to share his story to help promote St Barnabas House and its services.

Over the following weeks I came into regular contact with Richard, who whenever I saw him came across as a true gentleman and a popular man in Day Hospice. He spoke with such openness and honesty when sharing his story with me.

I was sad to hear of Richard’s sudden passing, just days before Hospice Care Week when we had planned to share his story.

Thankfully, with the blessing of his family and as per Richard’s wishes, we were still able to share his story after he died.

Caption: Tracey (left) taking part in her fundraising lungeathon

Tracey is doing really well with her fundraising. She has raised an amazing £2,352 of her £3,000 target so far, helped by her recent “lungeathon” where, together with a team of friends, family and people she had never met before, she walk lunged 66km. I’m told that’s the length of the PW Physique & Fitness studio 5,500 times, which must have been some feat!

Since joining the gym, Tracey says she has lost two stone and found a love for exercise!

If you’d like to sponsor Tracey you can do so by making a donation to her JustGiving page which can be found here: www.justgiving.com/tracey-shaughnessy.

Trekkers have been coming up with some really fun and unique ideas to raise funds so far. One recent event which was a real success was Fiona Walsh’s ‘Tea and Tarts’ party which raised nearly £1,000, taking her well over her £5,000 target!

Caption: Fiona Walsh (left) and her friend Debbie Darling who attends the Day Hospice

Hosted in a friend’s garden, Fiona said the party was an opportunity to “drink tea, eat cake, and maybe some Pimms and fizz too” – sounds like inspiration for a Big Get Together this summer I think!

Fiona is doing the Dalai Lama India Trek in honour of her friend, Debbie Darling, who attended the Day Hospice at St Barnabas when needed during illness.

When she heard Fiona was taking part, Debbie said: “I’m really chuffed that you will be raising funds for St Barnabas because I know from personal experience just what a wonderful hospice it is. Hospices help you to live your life fully and not just give up and die.

“The staff are kind, caring, supportive and dedicated to making end of life experience as positive as it can be. I'm fortunate that at the minute my cancer appears to be stable, but it is tough at times knowing that it won't always be like this, and everyone at St Barnabas has been truly ace!”

To sponsor Fiona, visit her JustGiving page: www.justgiving.com/fiona-walsh8

Other upcoming fundraising events include Katie Barrett’s clothes swap on Sunday 24 June from 11:30am to 3:30pm at the Warren Room, East Preston and Kingston Village Hall. Katie works as a Nursing Assistant at St Barnabas House.

As well as fundraising, many of my fellow trekkers have been taking part in training walks to improve their fitness and prepare for the big one in October.

Caption: India trekkers taking part in a training walk near Pulborough

On Sunday 22 April we had our first official group training walk as 17 of us trekked a route around Pulborough. It was a really good opportunity to socialise and get to know some of our fellow trekkers who we had never crossed paths with before.

We couldn’t have asked for better weather either. Here’s to hoping the next one from Arundel on Sunday 22 July is just as hot and sunny!

That’s all for now until my next blog, but if  you need any help with fundraising for St Barnabas House, please don’t hesitate to contact to get in touch with our Fundraising Team on 01903 254777 or email fundraising@stbh.org.uk.

Thank you for reading!