Four generations to take on Moonlight and Memories walk to remember much-loved family member

Four generations of a Lancashire family are coming together for St Catherine’s Hospice’s Moonlight and Memories Walk this summer.

Eighty-year-old great-grandma Teresa Worden has rallied her family, friends and neighbours to do their own version of the poignant sponsored walk in memory of her beloved husband Richard, after he was cared for by the charity at home and in the Lostock Hall hospice.

Teresa said: “I’ve never been an extensive walker but I want to do my bit for a charity which helped my family, and which really needs our help and support now.

“Everyone at St Catherine’s was so lovely to us and I just want to say ‘thank you’ and to bring everyone together now that we have this chance. I want us to honour Richard and do something special as a family along with people who have really been there for us in this last year.”

Supporters are invited to take on a four or 10-mile sponsored walk in their own way this June or July, with Teresa’s team of 20 walkers – aged from six to 80 – taking their efforts a step further.

Teresa’s two sons and daughter, her six grandchildren and some of her five great-grandchildren are taking part in her Moonlight and Memories Walk, along with other members of the community.

Richard was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2018 after he noticed feeling breathless whilst on a walk in Keswick. He underwent chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and was referred to the St Catherine’s Clinical Nurse Specialist team in 2019, to receive specialist palliative care at home in Bamber Bridge.

During this time, Teresa started attending the hospice’s monthly support sessions for carers, which are open to everyone in the community.

The charity’s Support Team has continued to offer help and advice to Teresa since Richard died at the hospice in February last year, making regular phone calls throughout lockdown and inviting her for a walk around the gardens of St Catherine’s Park when restrictions allowed.

She said: “I had never lived on my own before. I grew up in a big family of nine so it was a huge change for me to be on my own. I had wonderful support from family and neighbours, and St Catherine’s kept in touch with me throughout the pandemic to ask how I was coping.

“They took me and my sister for a lovely walk around the grounds; they are so beautiful and well looked after and it just makes me so proud to support this local charity.

“I have also knitted items for sale in the gift shop like baby clothes and blankets, and last year I decorated a tree in my garden with St Catherine’s Yellow Ribbon dedications in memory of Richard.

“Different members of the family came round to tie their ribbons over a weekend which was really nice, and we’re doing that again this year too.”

Registration for the Moonlight and Memories Walk is £10 for adults and £5 for children, including a 2021 t-shirt and medal. To sign up or for more details about how you can support St Catherine’s Hospice this year, visit www.stcatherines.co.uk or call 01772 629171.

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