Family completes epic walk for kid’s hospice

AN
ENGLISH family has successfully completed a 1,000 mile walk around the coast of
Ireland to raise funds for the country’s first children’s hospice.

The
Horti family from Essex started their 1,000 mile mission in aid of the
LauraLynn House in Leopardstown and the Little Havens Children’s Hospice in
Essex on Friday, July 1 and walked the final mile to the hospice on Friday,
August 26.

The
LauraLynn House was the brainchild of Jane and Brendan McKenna who tragically
lost their four-year old, Laura, from heart disease. On the day Laura died, their daughter, Lynn,
was diagnosed with leukaemia and died two years later.

Inspired
by seeing the difference a children’s hospice made to a family friend, the
Horti family – Dr Jane Horti and her IT consultant husband Paul (both 47), and
daughter Annie, a 17-year old A-level student, who had recently broken her
ankle – took up the challenge thrown down by 20-year old medical student, Sam
Horti.

“This has been a wonderful experience and I’m
grateful to be have shared it with two such wonderful organisations,

? Sam said.

“The work they do is priceless and we’re hoping that we reach our fundraising
target.

?

His
mum Jane said children’s hospices were very special places.

“They
put life into a child’s day, not days into a child’s life,

? she said.

“They
provide a great source of care and solidarity by allowing time for the family
to be together with support, allowing parents a night off to catch up on sleep,
and offering emotional support to the child, their siblings, and their friends.

“As
a parent losing your child must be the worse possible scenario in life. I have
had the luxury of spending eight weeks with my healthy teenagers and if this
can help these families in a small way with our adventure it will be worth
every step.

?

She
added:

“I can’t believe we have completed the walk. We were tired and had
blisters but it has been such a happy experience. We met wonderful people, seen
breathtaking scenery and have really enjoyed spending time as a family.

“We
really need the donations to continue but thank you to Ireland for your
generosity.

?

The
family raised sponsorship from hotels and guest houses on their route so every
cent raised goes straight to the charities. All the money raised in Ireland
goes to LauraLynn House.

Full
information, including how to donate to the charities can be found on the
family’s website www.500more.org.