Eight of the KFA Connect team entered ‘Run 4 Respite’ in March 2021 for Naomi House & Jacksplace. The challenge involved running, jogging, or walking 105-miles during the month, with the aim of raising £105 each which would fund 5 hours of respite care at the Winchester-based hospice.
The team enjoyed the competitive spirit, teamwork and helping to motivate each other – and found that much of the time during the daily online work meetings was spent comparing various aching muscles and sore feet!
Some of the days in March were wet and muddy but it didn’t stop them – covering 1086 miles between them, 246 miles more than was actually needed for the challenge! All eight of the team made it to the 105 miles with time to spare, raising over £2K for the charity.
One member of the team, Julita managed the 105 miles in the first week, so set herself various targets throughout the month which she kept beating before finally finishing the month having clocked up 252 miles on her own!
KFA had good reason to want to be involved with this challenge as, one of the team, Joe and his family had experienced first-hand the facilities at the hospice.
“At a year old, our son Sebastian was diagnosed with Barth Syndrome, an incredibly rare, life-limiting illness. We’d been put in contact with Naomi House who would be able to provide respite care as Sebastian grew older in a fantastic environment. Sebastian didn’t reach his third birthday and died tragically aged two and a half in December 2013 at Great Ormond Street Hospital whilst waiting for a heart transplant.
At the darkest point of our lives, Naomi House arranged the collection of Sebastian from the hospital in London and brought him home for the last time. Then the staff there took us to the Butterfly bereavement suite at the hospice where Sebastian could be looked after before the funeral, and where we were given compassionate and practical help. They offered warmth and light at this dark time.
Everything Naomi House offered to us was given without strings, they and many hospices rely on the donations of people like you and me.”
KFA connect have supported the hospice previously with fundraising, donations of items to sell in their shops and by giving up time to send gardening teams to the hospice to help keep their beautiful gardens and outside space looking great.
Naomi House seeks to raise £9.2 million to run the two units each year and support for events such as this provide the charity with crucial care services, free of charge to children, young adults, and their families.
For further information, please contact Nicki Smith 01425 484445 o