Despite the travel disruption caused by COVID-19, intrepid fundraisers can reach their summit of personal achievement while helping the hospice by signing up for Hike from Home this summer.

Hike from Home features three virtual routes of varying difficulty, allowing fundraisers to pick their peak and take on a mountain challenge – all without leaving their local area.

By tackling Ben Nevis, you can take on the 1,345m to the UK’s highest peak, with Mont Blanc you can climb 4,808m to the top of the Alps - or you can hit the summit of achievement by scaling 8,484m to the top of Mount Everest.

Elinor (corr) Eustace, Director of Fundraising at St Giles Hospice, said: “With all the restrictions on travel and group gatherings at the moment, we are trying to find new ways to help our community reach new heights and challenge themselves for St Giles.

“So many of our supporters love to push themselves to their limits on our fundraising challenges, but although you can’t take on a real trek this year because of the Coronavirus pandemic you can join #TeamStGiles and trek to the top on your own terrain.

“Choose your challenge and complete the suggested miles or elevation - however and whenever you like - while raising funds for St Giles along the way. You’ll get the same huge sense of achievement from pushing yourself to the limit and knowing you’re making a real difference to local people and their families living with a terminal illness.

“We are still delivering care to some of the most vulnerable people in our community but it costs £850,000 every month just to keep our service going, which is why we are so grateful to our fundraisers right now. We have never needed you more than we need you today.”

St Giles supporter Sue Jones is calling on people to push themselves to the limit for the hospice after just hanging up her boots following the charity’s Miles 4 St Giles appeal. Sue was planning on walking 30 miles in a month for the hospice, but following a challenge from her son she agreed to march 300 miles!

Sue said: “I would urge anyone to help raise funds for St Giles if they can. St Giles needs our help more than ever at the moment with shops having had to close and events being cancelled, so every amount you raise – however small - will make a real difference to such an important local charity.” 

Sue was supposed to be the Captain at Lea Marston Ladies Golf Club in 2020 and picked St Giles as her charity for the year to thank the hospice for providing end of life care for her mother Sheila Wharton last year (2019).

"St Giles is such a wonderful place that I wanted to do everything I can to support them – lockdown or no lockdown. The care and kindness they showed to Mum was amazing and I'll never forget it,” she added.

"Everyone was friendly and caring and at St Giles it wasn’t just about the patient – they cared about us all. Whenever we came to visit the receptionists always asked how we were - it was like being part of one large family.

“I think Hike from Home is a great idea. It’s a way to get exercise and challenge yourself while doing some good for a real worthy local cause, and you can do it at home right now, despite social distancing.”

Everyone who signs up for Hike from Home will get a dedicated member of the fundraising team to help them get to the top and a bespoke fundraising pack, featuring fundraising ideas, a distance tracker and route map and interesting information about your chosen challenge with local recipes.

As supporters pass fundraising milestones along the way they can earn St Giles Hospice treats, including a tote bag and surprise goodies.

For further information about Hike from Home or to sign up contact the fundraising team on fundraising@stgileshospice.com or call 01543 432538.