Why sign up for Night to Remember?

Published on: 17/09/2021

‘Amazing’, ‘fun’ and ‘important’ were just three words used to describe the event that over 500 people took part in in 2021, walking 7, 13.1 or 20 miles. After an energetic warm-up at Worthing Leisure Centre and music from Worthing Steel Band, the walkers were set off on their routes by the Mayor of Worthing and Town Crier at 10.30pm for a Night to Remember.

There’s lots of reasons to join up for Night to Remember. Spend time with your friends and family, do something different or to challenge yourself. But lots of people join in as a special celebration of someone they know who’s died. The event gives to opportunity to take time and reflect, as well as raise sponsorship for local hospice care. Just like Kris does each year since his wife, Nina, died:

Kris’s Story

Many of those who took part did so in memory of a family member or friend cared for by the hospice, including 49-year-old Kris from Upper Beeding who walked the 13-mile route in memory of his wife, Nina.

Nina’s diagnosis

“In late 2015, we received the devastating diagnosis that Nina had kidney cancer, and that’s where our journey began,” said Kris. After surgery to remove the cancer, Nina got the all-clear, until three months later when her symptoms came back, and they found that the cancer had returned.

“Through this difficult time, Nina wanted to live, she was determined to not let her illness define her. She was having chemo, and even at her chemo appointments we would make a day of it, go for lunch, do something new, and just have fun. Between her appointments we would plan visits and trips away – she was an unstoppable force of nature.”

Coming to St Barnabas House

Fast forward to 2017 and Nina’s condition started to deteriorate, and she started to struggle at home. “Nina really wanted to speak to people in similar situations, and that’s when we found St Barnabas House, and although nervous about going, once there, with the welcome she received – she loved her time there. The team really helped get her pain under control and she made a good circle of friends there, a bunch of fun loving troublemakers, they called themselves the three musketeers, even though there were four of them!

“Nina was fortunate to get an in-patient space at St Barnabas house, initially for respite but unfortunately things escalated. St Barnabas House gave us dignity, but most of all, they gave us opportunity. They gave us the opportunity to spend all our time together, especially in the last few days of Nina’s life and it allowed me to be a husband and be with my wife, and not concentrate on being a carer. The care was exemplary, all the staff considerate, caring and loving, and I can’t put into words how thankful I am for everything St Barnabas did for us. I can’t thank them all enough.”

On Sunday 08 April 2018, Nina sadly passed away at St Barnabas House with her husband Kris and her brother Martin, by her side.

Kris’s memories of Nina

She was beautiful, had a wonderful soul, put everyone before herself, and would drag anyone and everyone along with her to whatever fun thing was happening. No matter where we’d go, we’d have fun, we spent a lot of time laughing! You’d enjoy anything with Nina because she was enthused about everything that she did. She loved life and made the most out of it, even towards the end. As Nina would say ‘You have to grab the tiger by the tail and hang on for the ride.’”

Where your fundraising goes

Thank you for fundraising and providing much needed funds for the support we offer to people like Kris. St Barnabas House has been providing loving hospice care for 50 years, and it’s events like Night to Remember that help us to raise the vital funds needed to continue providing support for local people with life-limiting illnesses.

Night to Remember is one of our most popular events – and your amazing sponsorship has helped raise £70 thousand in previous years. It costs over £9million to run the hospice each year – and very little comes from government funding, the majority comes from the amazing fundraising you do.

£50

could provide patients with a relaxation session at the hospice to reduce stress and boost wellbeing

£90

could provide a home visit from a Community Nurse Specialist – assessing symptoms and providing emotional support

£150

could fund a nurse on the hospice ward for a full day, helping people live life to the full in the time that they have

Polly and her family taking a selfie in the sun

“Excellent end-of-life care is priceless, but it does come at a price for the hospice, and so the funds we raise are very much needed.”

Our night-time walking event in Worthing, suitable for all the family. Get together to remember someone you've lost, while raising money for local hospice care.