A long-serving Weston Hospicecare employee will be taking on the 30-mile Mendip Challenge in June after her mother was cared for by the charity.

Ros Seymour is the organisation’s finance manager and will join hundreds of other walkers to tackle the West Mendip Way on 3 June.

And although she vowed never to take on the challenge again after previously completing the course three years ago, Ros has had a re-think after seeing first-hand the quality of the care provided by Weston Hospicecare.

Ros is now preparing her walking boots once more to take on the 30-mile challenge in an attempt to raise a minimum of £500 to support the hospice after her mother spent her final days in the inpatient unit last winter.

Ros said: “Just seeing the brilliant care that the nurses give in the inpatient unit first-hand made me want to give something back to the hospice.

“They treated my mum with dignity and it wasn’t a very nice experience and it happened very quickly.

“But I have complete respect and admiration for our nurses, they were there when we needed them.”

In order to cover the financial cost of the expert care provided by the hospice, the charity must raise 80% of its £4.2million-a-year costs independently through retail, events and donations.

Ros said: “By working here I know that we only get 20% of our funding from the NHS and I know that every penny counts so we need to raise as much as we can.”

Hospicecare nurses also provide support for families and friends of patients, something Ros came to appreciate.

She said: “The nurses and everyone here at the hospice were really supportive of me and my family, which was really comforting.”

Ros, who has worked at the hospice for nearly a decade, is taking on the 30-mile route with her sister and friends. And whilst both sisters have completed the challenge before, and each pledged never to take part again, Ros admitted she was the one to convince her sister to take part once more.

She added: “It was most probably me. Luckily, my sister and I are very close.” 

You can sponsor Ros by visiting her Just Giving page.

Additionally, you can still join Ros by signing up to take part in the Mendip Challenge’s 10, 20 or 30-mile routes in aid of the hospice on 3 June. Registration costs £15, and the deadline is May 27.

Alternatively, the hospice is looking for voluntary marshals to help with handing out water, sweets and offer words of encouragement to those taking part. Please contact Kelsey on 01934 423967 or email Kelsey.dehaney@westonhospicecare.org.uk for more information.