A brother and sister have raised an incredible £2,656.85, including Gift Aid, for Paul Sartori Hospice at Home in memory of their much-loved father, John Hall.

Although neither Richard Hall nor his sister Caroline lives in Pembrokeshire, they were determined to support the local hospice at home charity that had helped their father and family during his illness.

The pair set themselves the challenge of walking 20 miles from Abingdon to Oxford, following the picturesque riverside route. But Richard decided that a straightforward 20-mile walk was not quite challenging enough. Their father had been a keen mountaineer, so, in a fitting tribute to John’s adventurous spirit, Richard completed the walk carrying a hefty 20kg pack on his back.

The siblings then managed to surpass their original challenge, although not entirely by choice. Thanks to a temperamental tracking watch, their planned 20-mile route became a 22-mile trek.

It was perhaps an appropriate ending to a challenge inspired by a man who was rarely afraid to push himself further. John Hall spent the latter part of his life with his wife in St Nicholas, North Pembrokeshire. A former police officer who had served with the Special Branch counter terrorism department, John had led a remarkable life filled with demanding work and extraordinary adventures.

He had climbed frozen waterfalls as a keen mountaineer and ran numerous marathons to name but a few personal achievements, giving him a wealth of stories to tell.

When John became ill and his wife became his full-time carer, accepting outside support did not come naturally to him.

“He was an old-fashioned, proud cop and didn’t find accepting help easy,” Richard explained.

However, as John became accustomed to the friendly Paul Sartori nurses visiting his home, he began to welcome their company and support. Their visits also gave his wife a much-deserved break from her caring responsibilities. Before long, John was regaling the nurses with tales from his fascinating past including his experiences guarding members of the Royal Family.

Following the walk, Richard and Caroline chose to add the family’s fundraising total to Paul Sartori’s Equipment Van Fundraiser, seeing it as a way to provide practical, long-term support for families throughout Pembrokeshire.

The campaign aims to raise £40,000 for a specialist van used to deliver and collect essential equipment, including beds, chairs and mobility aids, from people’s homes across the county.

This equipment can make it possible for patients to remain safely and comfortably at home, while the new van will also help protect the charity’s wider funds so they can continue supporting its nursing and other hospice at home services.

Richard and Caroline were also keen to demonstrate that supporters do not need to live in Pembrokeshire to make a meaningful difference. Whether someone walks, runs, organises an event or takes on a personal challenge in another part of the country, their support can still help Paul Sartori Hospice at Home care for local patients and families when they need it most.

Paul Sartori Foundation is enormously grateful to Richard and Caroline for going the extra mile in John’s memory, and to everyone who supported their challenge.

Anyone inspired to organise a fundraiser, wherever they live, can contact the Paul Sartori Foundation team on 01437 763223 or email [email protected].