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Hospice nurse will lead team on walking challenge
Hospice at home nurse, Liz Druro, will be taking to the hills again this summer when she steps out on the Iain Rennie Grove House Chilterns Three Peaks Challenge on 18th September.
Liz, who lives in Hemel, has worked as a specialist nurse for Iain Rennie Hospice at Home for 3 years as part of the charity's Dacorum nursing team. She and colleagues supported Grove House in St Albans to extend the Iain Rennie model of hospice care at home into the St Albans and Harpenden district - and now the two charities have merged, Liz is now based in St Albans and Harpenden caring for families across Hertfordshire in their own homes at any time of the day or night.
Liz says: "I took part in the second Chilterns Three Peaks Challenge in 2010, when the full 18-mile route was introduced. I foolishly decided to give that a go, and I loved it! It gave me a great sense of achievement - but it was hard work!"
Liz had hoped to take more of a back seat this year, having rallied a team of friends and family for the last two years - but friends had other ideas!
"Some other friends who haven't taken part before are really keen to 'walk the chalk' this year. They've persuaded me to do it with them, but I've told them I'm getting on the bus at Wendover and getting off again in Tring! This cuts out the additional 9 miles in between the second and final peak. I did ask if I could just walk this flat bit in between but apparently that's not allowed!"
The hospice charity is encouraging all walkers to raise £150 in sponsorship: enough to fund 24 hours of specialist nursing in patients' homes. Marie says: "This is a tremendous cause: to be able to be treated in your home and not to have to go into hospital. My Nan, Barbara, had frequent visits from Iain Rennie nurses. I'm sure the care, support and companionship really helped her in her last few weeks. I know she dreaded a trip to the hospital and to have someone come to her was amazing and in a way made her more at ease with everything.
"One of my close friends also received regular visits from Iain Rennie nurses and the charity's complementary therapy volunteers when she was having chemotherapy. She said the support and the chance to chat things through, combined with massage and reflexology, really helped her."
2012 Sponsors
The team would like to thank all our valued supporters for the assistance and support:
