Pilgrimage for Rebecca House

We are delighted to introduce Kate and Sue who are doing this amazing journey to raise money for the new Children's Unit, Rebecca House. Although their journey does not start until April 2008, you will be seeing and hearing a lot about them as they start to raise funds and prepare for the 500 mile walk.

Pilgrimage for Rebecca House - 12th April to 28th May 2008
Introduction

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This 500 mile walk will follow an ancient medieval pilgrim trail called the Camino de Frances, from St Jean du Pied du Port to Compostella de Santiago. What this means is that the trail goes from just south of Biarritz in the south of France over the Pyranees and on across the north of Spain almost to the Atlantic Ocean. If we have the time, and energy, we might walk an extra 45 miles to Finisterre and the sea; historically Columbus left to discover America from this point. Compostella became a place of pilgrimage after the Crusades and the loss of Jerusalem as a holy place .

We are two women, mothers, who both work in the health service. We are keen walkers and have completed the Parish Walk to Peel a couple of times and walked the High Peak Trail in Derbyshire, each walk to support different charities: Ronald Macdonald House at Alder Hey, British Heart Foundation and Speakeasy. In a mad moment we conceived this idea, which surprisingly didn’t involve alcohol, and haven’t regretted the decision at all. In fact the idea was initially to undertake this as we believed it would be life changing in some way. However, we decided that other people should benefit in some way and because of our experiences and connections with the Hospice and young people with life-threatening and life-limiting or terminal illness we chose Rebecca House.

About us – Sue Moore
I am a 42 year old mother of three young men: Christian 14, Josh 17, and Ted 44¾ (husband). I was born and brought up on the Island, though I spent 4 years in Alberta, Canada as a young girl. It was here, as a teenager, that I learned to appreciate the great Outdoors. I not only enjoy walking the length, breadth and height of the Isle of Man but also love skiing in Europe and America with my family.

I have been a registered nurse for 19 years and I currently work on the male surgical ward in Noble’s Hospital. My non-working time is spent, in addition to walking, on appreciating wine. When reading books about the Camino I was delighted to discover that a wine fountain existed and we would pass it on the way. Actually, it’s the whole social experience I enjoy of cooking for family and friends, entertaining and making people happy and comfortable.

About us – Kate Kirk
I am 52 and have three children, three stepchildren and four grandchildren: ages range from 34 to 2 years. I was born in Darlington, County Durham, and I have lived on the Isle of Man for 7 years, I followed my heart and married a Manx man called Juan. One catalyst for Sue and I to walk the Camino strangely enough came when I was in Canada, in Saskatchewan, I was talking to a First Nation’s Woman called Harvestmoon. She so infected me with her passion that I took the idea back to Sue and that was it, here we are. I share many interests with Sue, walking, reading cooking, talking, drinking and music. This is just as well because if we are going to walk together for six weeks there will be no shortage of things to talk about.

I originally trained as a nurse, midwife and health visitor before completing my training as a psychotherapist in 1995. Before coming to the Island I worked as psychotherapist in Palliative Care with children and adults who were dying. I now work for the Isle of Man Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS). Part of my job is to work closely with young people who are ill; I have been sad that the young person who dies often has been sent to Alder Hey rather than to stay on the Island.

What next?
People have been asking us “what our next challenge is?” but we just think that we need to survive this one. Perhaps bag packing at Shoprite for the Hospice after this will be challenge enough.

Sponsorship
Millets, Isle of Man have very generously offered a 10% discount on any clothing or equipment we need.
Josh & Christian Moore have donated all of their penny money which they were saving.
Janice Cottier and the Adult Mental Health Team raised £50 by holding a BBQ
Charles Turner at Intersport, Douglas and ASICS for the very generous supporting in providing our footwear and clothing
Shoprite for allowing us to do Bag Packing on 1st and 24th December - so watch out for us and please give generously

Tuesday 31st July
The girls have just brought into the Hospice Fundraising Office an amazing £277.01 from a Cake and Biscuit stall at Noble's Hospital Canteen.
Big Thanks go to:
Mags from Radiology for providing Meringues and Cakes
Pauline Keenan from Adult Mental Health Service for the ginger cake
Janice Cottier for her scones
Sara Corlett for cornflake cookies
Eileen Moore for Scones
Thelma Minay for cookies
Paul Moore for Lemon Drizzle cake
and a special thanks to Derek Peters, the Catering Manager, and all the canteen staff for their help and assistance
Thanks also to News Plus for donating a Teddy called Ronan.

We hope you all enjoyed the cakes and biscuits and watch out for the next Cake Sale in September.

2nd August
The total has now reached £297.06! A huge thank you to all at the Hill Street Mental Health Offices

13th August
The Mitre Folk Club have added a whopping £500 sponsorship! Thanks to everyone involved

Tuesday 25th September
Another famous Cake Sale this time raising even more than last time, a fantastic amount of £350.22
Big Thanks go to:
Mags Boyde
Pauline Keenan
Tracey Elliot
Hooly Cordas
Libbi Elliot
Leigh & Mike Pinnington
Janet Austin
Carolyn Chase
and a special thanks to Derek Peters, the Catering Manager, and all the canteen staff for their help and assistance

Tuesday 30th October
3 More donations have come in for Kate and Sue. The first donation of £31.91 is from the Mitre Hotel in Ramsey, a further £16.81 from Juan Corlett, and 2 ladies who took part in the Walking Festival have raised £15.00 - thanks to Ali Duff and Marie Jackson.

Friday 2nd November
Kate and Sue's Halloween Party at South Douglas Old Friends, FInch Road, Douglas
Was a great night £260.00 was raised.

Big thanks must go to:
Music by Mark Warren supported by Switched On Entertainment
Maggie and Natelie from the Douglas Old Friends Club.

Friday 25th January 2008

A fantastic night was had by all at the Soul Night and over �1000.00 was raised.
A special Thank you must go to:

Paul Moore for getting some great promises for the Promise Auction
Juan Corlett for his brilliant butty making
Maggie Clarke, stewardess of Douglas Old Friends, for all her support and humour and to her staff.
Sandra Phillips for her delicious cakes and help setting out.
And many thanks to all the people who donated raffle prizes.
Last but not least, Steve Smith, Tony Atkinson and Wayne Edgerton for providing the most absolutely excellent music that kept the night and dancers bouncing.

In Lieu of Christmas Presents and Cards

Kate would like to say a BIG THANK YOU to all her family and friends for not having any cards or presents this Christmas.� She donated �300 to the Pilgrimage.

Marianne also donated �20.00 in lieu of Christmas Cards

Christmas Bag Packing

Another bash at Shoprite bag packing brought in �229.20

The grand total is almost an amazing �5,00.00 and the start date is getting closer and closer, so please keeping helping and supporting Kate and Sue
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Please keep visiting this page for an update of the preparations and Fundraising. If Sue or Kate should contact you, please be as generous as you can - every penny counts.
If you would like to sponsor or help the girls in any way, please contact Fundraising on 01624 647431 or donate on line from our Home Page - Thank you