23 Jun 2023 Community

Jacky from UK Greetings is looking forward to The Kirkwood Memory Walk. Will you join her?

The Kirkwood are delighted to have been connected with fantastic local firm UK Greetings in Dewsbury for the last few years. As the biggest employer in the town, The Kirkwood were over the moon to be chosen by its workforce as their charity of choice. Now, as our biggest night of the year draws nearer, one UK Greetings employee is set to take on the Midnight Memory walk in support of our cause.

Jacky Wilcock, 66, who works for the company as a receptionist, has taken part in The Kirkwood Memory Walk every year since its inception and this year is no different. Jacky first took part in the walk because she wanted to support a local charity, but she has since known people who we have cared for. 

She now walks in memory of her best friend Kim's mum, Margaret Stoakes, after she was cared for on our In-Patient Unit in December 2014. 

On taking part in the walk Jacky commented: "I've done them all since they started, except during the pandemic. I started doing them because I wanted to support something that was in my local community and that gave important help to people. I've always done the 10 miles and enjoyed it.

"I've enjoyed the camaraderie you build with people on the night. I like the build up to it and just doing it. 

"A few years back it became a little bit more personal when my friend's mum passed away in The Kirkwood. I now do it in her memory. 

"I don't raise hundreds and hundreds of pounds, but I have probably raised a fair bit doing it over the years, and every penny counts. This year will be a special year as the company I work for, UK Greetings, are working closer with the charity and, to me, that's just fantastic. 

"I do the walk on my own, I enjoy walking and walk three and a half miles every day. I think about my sister who sadly died a few years back a lot and I'll think about both my sister and Margaret whilst I'm doing the event. Taking part in the walk gives me peace and time to think. I always set myself a time of three hours to complete the walk." 

Jacky pictured with the medals she has earned by taking part in The Kirkwood Memory Walk for the past 10 years.

 

On UK Greetings support for The Kirkwood, Jacky said: "With it being a local cause we are very community based, we've got local community schools coming in to do car washes and we have quite a lot of interaction with local activities and events going on, so when The Kirkwood became our charity of choice I was very pleased.

"I know it's not just a place where people go for the last days of their lives, The Kirkwood offers all sorts of different services. 

"Originally I thought it was just a service for people with cancer. I thought everybody went into a hospice who had cancer but since doing the walks I have learned a lot more about the charity and what they do. 

"I know The Kirkwood cares for anyone with a long term life limiting illness and doesn't just admit people on to their In-Patient Unit. The Kirkwood offers so much more and is so important to our community." 

"I will be encouraging as many of my colleagues at UK Greetings as possible to join the walk and hope to see them down their on the night." 

If you'd like to take part  in The Kirkwood Memory Walk on Satuday 1st July, click the link HERE and sign up before Sunday 25th June.