Wellbeing staff trot up to the start line for popular ellenor fundraiser

Fun loving staff are looking forward to donning pink tutus and piggy noses to raise money for the hospice charity where they all work together.

Terri’s Trotters are stepping up their already buoyant team spirit to take part in ellenor’s Twilight Walk in Gravesend this September. They will be joining the crowds of eager walkers on the start line at the Cyclopark ready to walk 10k for a cause close to their hearts.

Ringleader Terri May, a family support walker for ellenor, said: “The atmosphere at the Twilight Walk is amazing; there’s such a buzz about it. Before the walk starts, we all do warm-up exercises and there is usually a local celeb or an ellenor patron to get us all into the right mood.

“By the time we start walking it is dusk and when you have around 1,000 walkers wearing flashing bunny ears it’s mad. It’s a fun event made even more fun by people dressing up – it’s electric!”

Terri has completed the Twilight Walk, a firm favourite in ellenor’s fundraising calendar, at least seven times since she joined the staff 16 years ago. This year she and her colleagues in the Wellbeing team decided to join forces to take on the challenge.

Terri’s favourite colour is pink, so they have chosen to wear pink tutus and piggy ears and tails – and of course their orange ellenor T-shirts.

Everyone who takes part in the fundraiser receives an ellenor T-shirt with space on the back to write dedications to loved ones who have been helped by the charity. Terri’s Trotters will also give patients and family members who are unable to take part in the walk an opportunity to scribe the back of their shirts.

Terri said: “for the last couple of years the Gurdwara temple has opened its doors to us as a halfway stop. They provided over 700 samosas last year and were giving out onion bhajis, bananas and water. Seeing the temple lit up orange for ellenor is a lovely sight!”

The Trotters are aiming to raise £1000 between them and have already set up a target thermometer at The Manor Hotel, where the Wellbeing department is based during major extension work at the hospice in Northfleet.

Terri said: “I have always tried to give some of my time up to volunteer for ellenor or take part in their events. It’s good to get involved, and it’s fun. We see a lot of the families and patients we have worked with. We see their faces in the crowd, and they see ours – it’s lovely knowing you are giving something back by doing a bit extra. You get a real sense of achievement when you grab that chance to take part.

“You are often walking with people who you have cared for, people you have been with through a most precious time in their lives. It’s good to know you can still walk together at a fun event and raise money for the charity as well. You get such satisfaction.

“I would definitely encourage anyone to come along as it’s one of the most successful and fun events organised for the community by ellenor.”

Colleague Stacey Mancini, who recently started working at ellenor as a therapy assistant. Is one of the Terri’s Trotter gang members.

She joked: “Dressing up as a pig wasn’t in my job description, but when the others mentioned doing the walk as a group, I thought it sounded like a good idea. Firstly, you are raising money and secondly it will be something to look back on as a team. We are already talking about it and looking forward to it, discussing our outfits and making our target thermometer so we can chart our progress. I probably didn’t realise how much ellenor relies on fundraising from external sources until I started working here. It’s great to get involved.”

Want to help Terri's Trotters reach their target? You can donate to their JustGiving page here!