A dedicated group of animal lovers and their canine companions have completed our first-ever ‘Walkies for West Herts Hospitals’ dog walking challenge,
Throughout May, 20 participants and 12 dogs took to parks and trails, each aiming to walk 100 kilometres (km). Together, the group covered a combined distance of more than 2,000 km, the equivalent of walking from Watford to Rome, to support our Caring for Generations appeal.
The funds raised will directly benefit patients by funding key projects. These include creating child-friendly isolation rooms on Starfish Children’s Ward and developing a dedicated activities space for dementia patients on Oxhey Ward at Watford General Hospital.
Leading the fundraising was Senior Midwife Bianca Baum, pictured above, who took part in the challenge in memory of her mother, Michele Baum. Bianca raised £1,250, making her the highest individual fundraiser of the event.
Bianca said:
“Taking part in the Walkies challenge with my dog, Millie, was deeply personal for me. Walking 100 km in memory of my mum, Michele, whom we lost suddenly at the start of this year, while raising funds for the hospital trust where I have worked as a midwife for five years, made the experience especially meaningful. We are incredibly grateful for the care, kindness and support that my mum received during her time in hospital; it meant so much to us as a family. I am very grateful to everyone who supported us on this challenge.”
Among the other top fundraisers was Donna Fitzpatrick, West Herts Hospitals Redevelopment Programme Director, and her Golden Retriever, Louis. The duo completed the challenge a week ahead of schedule, exceeding their distance target and raising over £1,000 for the appeal.
Reflecting on the achievement, Donna said:
“Louis and I loved taking part in the challenge this May. We achieved our target earlier than expected and knowing that every mile we walked was helping local children and dementia patients at West Herts Hospitals made it completely worthwhile. Everyone has been incredibly generous and supportive, and Louis certainly enjoyed all the extra attention and treats along the way.”
Another contribution came from Leah Jackson, Practice Manager at Blythwood Vets. Leah completed the 100 km target alongside her eight-year-old son, Oakley, (pictured front below), who borrowed two dogs, Winnie the pug and Poppy, to join them. Together, they raised over £500 for the hospital charity.
Leah Jackson said:
“We had a wonderful time participating in the Walkies challenge. Oakley took his responsibility very seriously, and borrowing Winnie and Poppy made every single walk an adventure for him. Working at Blythwood Vets, I know how much joy animals bring to our lives, so it was fantastic to channel that energy into raising funds for West Herts Hospitals Charity. We are so grateful to everyone who sponsored us.”
Joining the community effort was presenter Claire Haestier, from local radio station Vibe 107.6 FM, alongside her remarkable 23-year-old dog, Willow. Whilst the official challenge took place in May, exceptionally hot weather meant the duo had to take it steady to prioritise Willow’s health. Undeterred, Claire and Willow are continuing their walking challenge into June to hit their target and raise vital awareness for the cause.
Claire Haestier said:
“Willow and I were thrilled to support such a fantastic local charity. Even though we had to take things easy because she is a 23-year-old girl, we are determined to keep going through June. It has been wonderful to see the community come together, and every pound raised makes a massive difference to our local NHS hospital.”
Our CEO, Alison Rosen, took part in the challenge with her 12-year-old Labradoodle, Shawarma, and expressed her gratitude to everyone involved:
“We are delighted by the success of our very first Walkies challenge. To see 20 supporters and 12 dogs come together to clock up so many kilometres is inspiring. The funds raised will allow us to go beyond standard NHS provision, transforming spaces in the Starfish and Oxhey wards into comforting environments for our most vulnerable patients. I want to say a huge thank you to every walker, human and canine alike, for their efforts.”
While the walking challenge has concluded, we are still accepting donations to help reach our final target for the appeal. To contribute, please visit the appeal page here: https://whhc.org.uk/appeals/caring-for-generations
Meet some of our Walkies for West Herts Hospitals participants:
