Fans set to walk again for charity
You may remember last April that 50 brave Kidderminster Harriers supporters walked 65 miles in two days from Aggborough to Forest Green Rovers. They did so for Macmillan Cancer Support in memory of former KHIST chairman Steve Millington who had recently passed away after a short illness. The group managed to raise a staggering £38,000 for the charity.
Forest Green Walkers back in April
Undeterred the majority will once again get their walking boots on and walk 35 miles in one day from Kidderminster Harriers Football Club to Telford on Good Friday – April 3rd. The route will take the walkers to Bewdley and then up the River Severn to Ironbridge before completing the journey by road to Telford.
If the 35 miles wasn’t enough, after an overnight stop, those fit enough will then play for the Harriers fans football team on Saturday morning against their Telford counterparts! Afterwards the group will then walk to the AFC Telford United ground to watch Harriers in the afternoon’s main fixture.
This walk will be for the charity Towards Tomorrow Together and in memory of Charlotte May Pountney who was sadly born sleeping at full term on the 20th June 2014.
Parents Dave and Beckie Pountney are huge Harriers fans and helped organise the walk to Forest Green in April that raised so much money. Dave has also played an active part in KHIST for a number of years that includes creating the successful KHIST 2020 Lottery.
Beckie explained ‘There are no words to describe the pain and devastation. The first few days are so dark and confusing, trying to understand what happened and trying to make decisions that no parent should have to make’.
During this time in hospital they were given a keepsake box that was donated to the hospital from the local charity Towards Tomorrow Together. The box contained items that are there to help ease the pain and build memories, a photo card, two teddies and two bracelets – one to rest with Charlotte and one for them to keep, a candle, a blanket, poems, helpful information and contacts for people who understood. Rather than focusing on the difficult decisions and discussions, they were able to build some kind memories.
Towards Tomorrow Together provide Worcester Royal, Alexandra and Russell’s Hall hospitals with keepsake boxes, they also provide monthly group support meetings. They would however like to expand the charity in order to provide more hospitals with the boxes and offer services on a more individual basis. Everybody copes with things in different ways, the NHS provides counselling services but usually only 6 sessions. Towards Tomorrow Together would like to be able to offer alternative therapies such as hypnotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy and acupressure which are not available on the NHS. These would help with issues such as stress, anxiety and grief. The therapists would be trained by the charity’s founder Mel Scott to ensure the therapy is delivered appropriately, the therapists would also be invited to do group sessions on coping strategies.
Another aim is to be able to offer bereaved parents the chance to have a short break to provide important family time and respite. Dave and Beckie know how important this opportunity is as they were fortunate to be able to go to Spain for a week and found that extremely beneficial however many not all are able to do so.
Dave and Beckie have been and continue to be helped by this small but very important charity and by doing this walk they hope to be able to help them get their future projects off the ground. Nothing can take away the pain of losing your child but Towards Tomorrow Together means you don’t have to go though it alone.
There are already have over 40 walkers committed to the walk but they’d love to hear from you if you’d like to join the walk. The group will be meeting on Sunday 11th January at 4pm in the Harriers Arms ahead of their first 10 mile practice walk on Saturday 17th January.
You can contact Dave on 07872 915886 or dave.pountney@khist.org.uk for further information.
However if you are unable to take part and would like to sponsor them then you can do on www.justgiving.com/walktelford
Thanks for your anticipated support.
