Experience a ‘Sunrise to Remember’ and raise vital funds for hospice care

There’s still time to register for St Barnabas House’s brand-new walk, Sunrise to Remember.

Taking place on 25 June 2022, Sunrise to Remember promises all the excitement and camaraderie of the hospice’s celebrated midnight walk, Night to Remember, but with a special sunrise twist.

Instead of walking through the night, hundreds of supporters will be setting off from Worthing Leisure Centre at 4.15am, walking from darkness into the sunrise on a 10 or 20-kilometre route through the tree-lined paths of Worthing, across fields, down rivers and along the beautiful coastline.

For some participants Sunrise to Remember will be an emotional, as well as a physical challenge.

“I’ve never done anything like this before,” says Lucy, 62, from Worthing, who is walking the 20km route in memory of her friend who died in March. “But I was keen to do it in memory of my friend who received care from St Barnabas House.”

The early Saturday morning start will be a challenge for Lucy, “I hope I wake up in time! But I’m really looking forward to it as I don’t often see the sunrise in the summer months.”

“If you’re thinking of taking part in Sunrise to Remember then you’re already half-way there! Sign up today, take on the challenge and support your local hospice,” says Lucy.

Sue Swayne, 70, from Portslade, will also be taking on Sunrise to Remember in memory of her husband, Alan, who died in 2018. “We were married for 45 fantastic years,” says Sue. “We’d always go for walks together and we loved travelling, but in 2018 Alan started to feel unwell.”

In May 2018, Alan was unwell and was undergoing investigations at the hospital. “One day Alan went for a scan, and I remember getting a phone call where they told us that they found a growth in his stomach which was the result of pancreatic cancer. We were told that he had just days to live.”

Speaking about this difficult time, Sue says, “as soon as we received that news, Alan decided that he didn’t want to go back home. So, St Barnabas House stepped in and arranged for him to stay at the hospice. The short time that we were at the hospice made such a big difference. The team were incredible and always told us what was going on, and most importantly, what to expect. They were wonderful, they kept us calm, and they allowed us to spend precious time together. They also allowed all the family and some of our friends to visit any time which was a great comfort to myself and to Alan.”

Sue stayed at the hospice with her husband in his final nights, “I slept in the room with him, so he was never on his own, then, on 1 July 2018, at the age of 77, he died by my side.”