11 Jun 2026 Community

Emma Takes on the Great Wall of China in Honour of Her Grandad

For Emma Morris from Huddersfield, taking part in The Kirkwood's Great Wall of China Trek is an opportunity to give back to a charity that means so much to her family.

Emma has previously taken part in The Kirkwood's Starlight Walk, but the Great Wall of China Trek will be her biggest challenge yet. She is taking on the adventure in honour of her grandad, Ted Firth, who spent his final weeks at The Kirkwood and received what Emma describes as "magnificent" care.

The experience gave Emma a first-hand insight into the vital support The Kirkwood provides to patients and their loved ones, inspiring her to raise funds to help ensure that care continues for local families in the future.

Speaking about her decision to sign up, Emma said: "I've never done anything like the Great Wall of China Trek before. Apart from taking part in The Kirkwood's Starlight Walk, this is completely new territory for me.

My main reason for signing up is that two years ago my grandad, Ted Firth, spent his last weeks at The Kirkwood and was cared for magnificently. Not only was the care he received exceptional, but the support shown to the rest of our family whenever we visited him was incredible too.

I have lived in Huddersfield all my life and have always been aware of The Kirkwood and the great work it does, but this was the first time I'd experienced it personally. Seeing first-hand the level of care, compassion and support provided by the team made me realise just how special the charity is."

Emma also reflected on how her experience shaped her understanding of the importance of fundraising, "I hadn't fully appreciated just how much it costs to run a service like The Kirkwood until my family needed it. When I saw information about the Great Wall of China Trek, it felt like a fantastic opportunity to raise some money and give something back to a cause that means so much to us.

Most of my family and friends live in Huddersfield, so it's comforting to know there's such a wonderful facility on our doorstep should any of us ever need it. The Kirkwood is there for so many local families, and I'm proud to be doing my bit to help ensure that support continues for years to come."

We're looking for 40 amazing trekkers to join us on an unforgettable journey across one of the world's most iconic landmarks – the Great Wall of China.

This is more than a trek. It's a chance to challenge yourself, create memories that will last a lifetime, and raise vital funds to help The Kirkwood continue caring for local people and families when they need it most.

Only 40 places are available… will you be one of them?

Sign up now: https://bit.ly/GreatWallofChina27