Officers take part in St David’s Hospice charity walk

Aug 14 2008 by Samantha Castle, North Wales Weekly News

TWO beat bobbies will be up with the lark this weekend as they pound the pavements to help raise money for a local hospice.

The two female officers from North Wales Police will take part in a sponsored walk to help raise much-needed funds for St David’s in Llandudno.

PC Heidi Hardwick, based in Llandudno, and PCSO Jill Buerdsell, who covers the Conwy Valley, will take part in Saturday’s St David’s Hospice dawn event by walking a nine-mile return journey from Conwy to Llandudno.

“The organisers approached me to ask for police assistance for the event due to it being a female only walk,” said PC Hardwick.

“We were really happy to agree to actually take part in the walk and are quite excited, even though we have to set off at 3.45am.

“This is an excellent opportunity for us to show our support for the charity by helping them raise funds while also enabling us to engage with the local community.”

This is the first time the hospice has organised an event of this type. Fundraising coordinator Marie Bugler said: “We hope this event will be great fun, and that we’ll be able to raise thousands of pounds as other hospices have done throughout the UK.

“Although only 10% of the annual running costs of £1.4m are met by the local health board, the hospice is able to provide its services free of charge.”

The hospice aims to raise £10,000 and over 240 women from all over Conwy, Gwynedd and Anglesey are taking part.

For further information regarding the Dawn Walk, or anyone wishing to donate, contact the hospice on 01492 879058 or log on to their website on www.stdavidshospice.org.uk