Get it in your diary!!
This opportunity is open to all OAA members, not just the Rambling Club
Since my wife Margaret died of ovarian cancer in May 2009, I have organised some fundraising for the above hotel. We benefitted from the charity during her illness and found it an inspiring facility. A number of members have supported this event previously and I am flagging up the date well in advance.
This year it is Friday 25th October for four nights (although you can adjust the number of nights if you wish) The walk will be on the Sunday 27th, and will probably be our flat stroll from the hotel in central Bournemouth to Hengistbury Head, with the option of crossing the head to Muddeford Spit, either on foot or by the land train. Probably an 8 mile walk.
The hotel is sponsored by the charity Macmillan Caring Locally. It is unique, the only of its kind and is exclusively for those suffering from cancer (and now other life-threatening disease) and their carers. Normally the public cannot stay there but I put a case to the Trustees that by allowing our Group to stay (at an off-peak time) it would achieve two objectives a. to publicise the place and b. to raise some money for their “wish list”.
This was agreed and I undertook that we would raise support to the amount of a minimum £50 per room occupied. This donation can be gift aided too.
This will be the tenth such event. I gained some publicity in the Bournemouth Echo for the first walk, at that time the hotel was in Southbourne. Its possible we may get a newspaper mention this time, so I hope for reasonable numbers. The cost has been held at £55 pppn, dinner b&b and there is no single supplement. For those who have not been before, the hotel is of a reasonable standard, with ensuite rooms and it is situated within 3 or 400 yards of the pier in central Bournemouth. Bring your bus pass, there is a good service! I have provisionally booked 5 double/twins and 5 singles. You are welcome to be with us whether or not you undertake the walk, there is plenty to see in the area and the New Forest.
If you are likely to attend it would help if I could have names as soon as possible, to firm up the booking. No deposit is required, and of course you can cancel with reasonable notice. However, I can possibly leave it until say a month before. Dennis Johnson, senixa@hotmail.com