Stride into summer with a scenic stroll and Pimms for a noble cause

Put your best foot forward to raise sole-stirring funds for the Exeter and Mid Devon hospice charity.

Step into summer on Saturday, July 13, with a seven-mile walk that takes in stunning views of the Exe estuary and celebrates all things summer, including a cream tea picnic, award-winning gelato ice cream and a glass of Pimms en route.

Event partners Darts Farm are once again kindly providing their venue and gelato for everyone who takes part. This family-friendly event is open to all ages and abilities, including four-legged friends.

Summer Walk only uses reusable, upcycled and compostable décor with no unnecessary single-use plastic as a kinder to the environment event.

Tori Vince, events manager at Hospiscare, explained: “We’re so excited to bring the Summer Walk back for 2024. Last year’s event raised over £44,000 for our local hospice, and we couldn’t be more grateful to our community for helping us raise these vital funds. We have some exciting plans for this year's event, and we can’t wait to welcome walkers to the beautiful Darts Farm to celebrate summer with Hospiscare.”

Speaking on behalf of Darts Farm, James Dart says: “As a community-focused business, we understand the importance of supporting local and giving back where we can. We’re pleased to be partnering with Hospiscare for the second year of their Summer Walk and helping to make this year’s event even more special while raising much-needed funds to support the local hospice, which is very dear to our hearts.”

Hilton-Ames and West Country Contracting sponsor this year’s Summer Walk.

Director of West Country Contracting Will Searles said, “West Country Contracting is thrilled to be sponsoring this year’s Hospiscare Summer Walk. The event will celebrate the best of British summertime, and I know our staff members are keen to participate and support a meaningful cause while having a bit of fun along the way! We are proud to stand alongside Hospiscare and look forward to making a positive impact together.”

Paul Newman, director of business development for Hilton-Ames, says: "As a local business, it is essential for us to support a charity that has such a vital impact on our community. We put the customer experience at the forefront of everything we do, and we know that those who take part in Hospiscare's Summer Walk will have this first-class experience."

Hospiscare supports over 2,000 patients and their families across the heart of Devon every year. It needs to raise around £9.7 million annually to provide expert care at no cost to its patients and their families.

The hospice faced a £2.5 million funding deficit and was forced to reduce its services at the beginning of April. Fundraising events like Summer Walk are vital to the future of the local charity, with every penny of sponsorship helping to fund the hospice’s specialist end-of-life care.

There’s no need to ‘wish you were here’ – sign up today by visiting www.hospiscare.co.uk/summer