Climb Every Mountain: Hospice at Home HCA Sam and Husband Graeme have been coast to coast for the hospice

Published on: 25/06/2024

‘The hills were alive with the sound of music.’

They absolutely were when Hospice at Home healthcare assistant, Samantha George (Sam) and her husband Graeme conquered Wainwright’s Coast to Coast Walk (WC2C) over eleven and a half days this June, to raise funds for Wirral Hospice St John’s.

Yes they took on the famous, scenic and most challenging trek from St Bees Head in Cumbria, through THREE national parks, to finish at Robin Hood’s Bay on the Yorkshire Coast!

It was uphill and down dale for around 200 miles and reports vary as to whether it’s easier going up rather than coming down! There’s 24,000 feet of ascent in all (Everest is 29,000 ft) and despite some rain early on the weather was  good which we believe led to some tiring but ultimately enjoyable walking.

Graeme has a special birthday this year so the keen hikers thought that they should do an extra special challenge to mark his big 6-0! And now, by Jove, they’ve done it!

(Sam and Graeme do all the great local walks around Wirral, they’ve done the 14-peak challenge in Snowdonia, Three Peaks Yorkshire, they are regular visitors to the Lake District and now they’ve realised their long time ambition to complete the WC2C – Wowser! (see some more photos in the gallery below).

Their three grown-up daughters Steph, Amy and Jess, have often ‘enjoyed tagging along’, been roped in, so the whole family, Von Trapp-esque, like to go-a-wandering from time to time. We hear they’re in awe of their mum and Dad, rightly so.

Here’s the family, pictured on the right, very recently, at Scafell Pike in the Lake District.

It won’t be long until they’re all at Loggerheads again. No, not in that way, it’s ‘base-camp’ for the popular walk up to the famous peak of Moel Famau, in North Wales, clearly visible across the River Dee from our Wirral peninsula. HaHa!

Sam has been a health care assistant in our Hospice at Home team for 15 months now and just loves the hospice and her job,

“Working with my lovely colleagues to support people at home, and seeing the love and support of their families, is so rewarding. We’ll do whatever is necessary to support a person’s quality of life at home for as long as possible.”

With Sam as a qualified nurse and Graeme who works in the travel industry, any necessary caring (for blisters, maybe), and accommodation was all taken care of. They set a fundraising target of £1,000 which they’ve now surpassed with some more donations expected which is absolutely magnificent.

If you would like to make a supportive donation as sponsors of their Wainwright’s Coast to Coast walking challenge for Wirral Hospice St John’s their Just Giving page is at www.justgiving.com/page/samantha-george-1715159206794

Thank you so, so much, Sam and Graeme and, remember,

‘You climbed every mountain,

Forded every stream

Followed every rainbow*,

Until you found your dream.’

*