A huge thank you and well done to Kiera Comfort, who raised an amazing £3,643.42 for local charity Phyllis Tuckwell, by completing the Devizes to Westminster Canoe Race with her friend Elise.
The gruelling 108 mile race took place over the Easter weekend and included 77 portages, where Kiera and Elise had to carry their canoe between stretches of navigable water. The weather over the weekend was beautiful and the race took the friends a total of three days to complete. They averaged between six and a half to seven hours of paddling per day, camping and cooking for themselves overnight.
“We really enjoyed the challenge,” said Kiera. “I wanted to raise money for Phyllis Tuckwell as they cared for my Grandad, who has since died.”
“Thank you so much to Kiera for completing this amazing challenge in aid of Phyllis Tuckwell,” said Charli Quay-Barnham, Community Fundraising Manager at Phyllis Tuckwell. “£3,643 could pay for over a month’s care from one of our physiotherapists, whose expert support and advice can help patients to remain as independent as possible throughout their illness.”
Phyllis Tuckwell provides supportive and end of life care for local patients and families who are living with an advanced or terminal illness, such as cancer. Every day it supports over 250 patients, relatives and carers – in their own homes, in the community, at the Hospice in Farnham and at the Beacon Centre in Guildford – through medical and nursing care, therapies, counselling, social work advice and practical support. However, as the NHS/Government usually only covers about 20% of its costs, it has to raise over £25,000 a day to be able to offer all of its services, which it gives free of charge to its patients and their families. All of the money that Kiera has raised will go directly towards helping fund this care.
Why not take on your own challenge to support Phyllis Tuckwell? Visit www.pth.org.uk/events to see a range of challenges which the charity is offering, or take on one of your own choice. Get sponsored and support local hospice care – just like Kiera, you can make a real difference to people in our local community who need your support.