Donna Horton, 40, from Rayleigh, and her sister Nicola Horton, 44, from Surrey will be travelling to Essex to walk all 14 miles of Pier to Pier, starting and finishing at Clacton Pier, where their mum Lee, from Holland-on-Sea, will be waiting. They are walking for the third year running in memory of their dad Geoff, who was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer and supported by St Helena Hospice’s community team at and SinglePoint at home in his last few weeks of life. Donna said:

“The first year we did the walk not long after my dad passed and it was a focus for us. Knowing that lots of people are there for the same reason, that we’ve all lost someone and we’re all supporting each other, the camaraderie of it all was just amazing which is why we kept doing it.

“The nurse that came from SinglePoint got my dad straight away and the banter between them was amazing to see because it lifted him up. It was nice to see him socialise with someone he’d not met before; it was just the way she came in and she just knew how to be. It wasn’t nice to see him like that, but the way all the nurses were when they were there, lifted the mood.

“Because the Pier to Pier walk starts at either end, you end up passing the same people a couple of times and you’re hi-fiving people and saying ‘keep going!’ It keeps everyone motivated. It’s that atmosphere that we really enjoy and knowing we are doing it to help the nurses that helped us."

"I have always been a regular walker and I know that it helps with the cancer, which I have in my bones and all over the place. I just do what I can to keep healthy, so I walk twice a day whether I like it or not. I've got two friends who've decided to walk Pier to Pier with me.

"I just want to be able to do my bit because I am very pro the Hospice and I might need it myself. I thought, well, if I've got cancer, I might as well use it for some benefit.

"I don't feel scared of actually dying, I feel sad, obviously, because I don't want to go, but that's the way it is. My brother was 32 when he died of cancer. I'm 69, I'm hoping to make 70 in October.”

Cheering participants on from his beach hut, which is doubling as a water station, will be Robin Venables from Frinton-on-Sea. His wife Sue died at the Hospice in November last year age 58 and the beach hut was a special place that Sue and the family had spent many happy hours at over the years. Sue’s daughters, Bethan and Cathlin, will be leading family and friends on the Pier to Pier walk in memory of their mother. Robin said:

“I have to admit I was not aware of what the Hospice really did at the time, I was aware of its existence but not of the support it could provide. As soon as we arrived at the Hospice, we both felt a heavy load had been removed from our shoulders.

“Sadly, after two weeks at the Hospice Sue passed peacefully away. Again, the Hospice dealt with that difficult time in a very respectful and supportive manner.

“So I am now very aware of what the benefits of the hospice movement and I am more than happy to support all they do. If you are on the walk look out for us. We will all be wearing printed tea shirts in memory of Sue and the hut is easy to spot as it has a Welsh Dragon on the front in honour of Sue’s roots.”

The family-friendly Pier to Pier walk, which is sponsored by Pickering Group, has been a favourite event among supporters of St Helena Hospice, as well as local residents and businesses, since 2011 and attracts hundreds of people from across Tendring district and Colchester.

Participants can choose to start from either Clacton or Walton Pier and walk the 7 miles between the two piers taking in views of the sea, or challenge themselves further by walking the return journey of 14 miles.

Pre-registration closes on Tuesday 13th May 2025 at 11.59pm but participants can pay to take part on the day at the St Helena Hospice event registration desk located at both piers at £25 per adult and £5 per child.