Foyle Hospice annual Female Walk going lockdown style for 2020

Due to an overwhelming response from supporters calling for the event to go ahead, Foyle Hospice has decided to bring back the Female Walk this year, in line with government guidelines.

In association with Seagate the Hospice are organising a ‘Lockdown Style’ event with a 2020 virtual twist.

Due to the current restrictions on group gatherings, people are being asked to complete the walk either on their own or in small groups of no more than six people, while maintaining social distancing.

There is no fixed date or route this year and participants can complete the Female Walk when and where they wish, which allows for more freedom to take part in the event and support the local hospice. It will also enable those women who are not currently in the city to join in.

One familiar aspect is that Foyle Hospice has designed a special version of its Female Walk T-shirt that will also serve as a keep sake of a year that few will ever forget.

Sheila Duffy, Foyle Hospice Director of Income Generation and Communications said: “The Foyle Hospice Female Walk launched in 1983 and has been running annually since 2000. The walk usually has around 4,000 participants walking or running in united support for Foyle Hospice. On average between £40K - £50K is raised by the event, which typically takes place at the start of June each year.

“Summer is usually when the majority of Foyle Hospice fundraising events take place and since the Spring most events have been cancelled, which has left a huge gap in Foyle Hospice funding. All proceeds from the Female Walk help towards the running costs of the hospice and the specialist services that we offer our community.

“The support of the community for the Female Walk is renowned throughout the city and the North West and this year we want our ladies to unite and support the campaign, lockdown style. We want to flood social media with our Female Walk posts and pictures of support, once you have completed your walk, we invite you to upload your picture to social media tagging @FoyleHospice.”

Sign-up for the female walk online at: www.register.enthuse.com/ps/event/Femalewalklockdownstyle and you will receive your fundraising pack in the mail.

The fundraising pack will contain the 2020 t-shirt and also details on how to create your own online sponsorship form on Just Giving or Facebook. People are urged to share their online fundraising link with family and friends to help raise much needed funds for the Hospice.