Doctors and Nurses Trek Sahara to Raise Record Amount for Charity

A group of doctors and nurses from St Wilfrid’s Hospice in Eastbourne have trekked more than 50km of the Sahara Desert, helping to raise £130,000.

Inpatient Unit Nurse Kate Watkins, Clinical Skills Facilitator Tilli Stevens, Inpatient Unit Team Leader Helen Fothergill, Consultant in Palliative Medicine Farida Malik and retired Inpatient Unit Nurse Beverly Twine joined around 50 other staff members and hospice supporters who spent five days trekking across the vast and diverse landscape of the iconic Sahara Desert in scorching temperatures.

St Wilfrid’s supporters have never before raised such a large amount of money for undertaking an overseas challenge.

Kate raised more than £3,000 and said: “The trek was an incredible adventure, and I loved it, especially sleeping under the stars. We made great friendships and laughed so much. I would love to do it again but there are so many different adventures to take on.”

“I found the trek inspiring and challenging, and learnt things about myself,” Tilli said. “All the people who signed up were so lovely and had their own reason for doing it. I enjoyed visiting somewhere completely different and sharing a different way of life and culture with the local people.” She raised £3,387.

“It was by far the hardest thing I’ve ever done,” said Helen, who raised £2,500. “The heat was incredible and much more of an issue than I had ever imagined. But the guides and the support of my fellow trekkers helped me through it. I saw and experienced an amazing part of the world, met an incredible bunch of people who I will never forget, and achieved so much.”

Jemma Campbell, St Wilfrid’s Hospice’s Events Fundraiser, said: “We’d like to say a huge thank you to the wonderful members of our team for their fantastic fundraising. They helped raise a record-breaking amount for an overseas challenge and will see first-hand where their money goes.”