Unique Love Heart Walk is family's way of thanking "magnificent" Pendleside Hospice

The countdown is on to a unique walk, devised by the family of a businesswoman and mum who died in 2016 from a brain tumour,
Family and friends of Victoria Waiting, pictured with her nephew Tom, are planning their annual Love Heart Walk in  her memory.Family and friends of Victoria Waiting, pictured with her nephew Tom, are planning their annual Love Heart Walk in  her memory.
Family and friends of Victoria Waiting, pictured with her nephew Tom, are planning their annual Love Heart Walk in her memory.

The Love Heart Walk kicks off on Saturday and will raise money for Pendleside Hospice where Victoria Waiting was cared for in the last months of her life after she was diagnosed with the fatal tumour.

Vic, who was 44 when she died, left her husband Stewart and their two children, James and Alex.

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She was a well-known local business woman who ran Waitings, a civil engineering firm in Cumbria. She was also a keen equestrian and owned a number of horses.

Vic's family were so grateful for the "magnificent" care and love she received at the hospice they set a target to raise £100,000.

Vic's sister-in-law Sophie Waiting, who lives in Roughlee, Pendle, created the 40 mile "Love Heart" Walk as a tool for people to take time out and remember those loved, while also raising much needed cash for the hospice.

Anyone can take part and the challenge, which is flexible enough to be done in one go or over several days, and takes in the beauty of Pendle and the Ribble Valley's stunning countryside and also some lovely places to stop.

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Sophie said: “Along the way you can celebrate the diversity of everything northern.

"There are places to stop like The White Swan at Fence, The Pendle Inn at Barley, The Assheton Arms at Downham, The Spead Eagle at Sawley, The Coach and Horses at Bolton-by-bowland, The Buck Inn at Paythorne, The Tempest Arms at Elslack, The Black Lane Ends at Colne, Tubbs of Colne, and all the delights of Barrowford.

"The walk also goes through towns such as Colne so there are resources where you can get your dinner en route or stop at pubs.

"It’s celebrating the great Northern countryside covering Yorkshire and Lancashire.

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"‘All the places en-route have been very supportive and the general public are fantastic – they see the famous yellow hospice t-shirt and they are willing you on – everyone loves that place."

The walk is in the shape of a love heart and the current one takes place over seven days starting from Saturday and ending with a party on the final day, Friday, July 27th.

Children and dogs are welcome and free t shirts will be handed out in exchange for sponsorship.

This year a number of hospice nurses and staff will be taking part and Vic's mum, Christine is also walking to celebrate her 70th birthday.

Sophie added: “I love walking, I always have.

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"It’s really good for your soul when you’re grieving or stressed.

"I’m always on MapMyWalk and if you GPS it, the walk is in the shape of a love heart.

"I want it to be in Vic’s memory but also for anyone to be able to put their name to it.

"It takes in the most beautiful countryside and by the time you finish the love heart, you’re partly healed.”

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Sophie and her family and friends have done the walk twice and she has created packs which include a T-shirt and a map and for a registration fee of £10

Visit loveheartwalk.com to register for the walk, sponsor walkers or get more information.