In a few short weeks Niki Henderson, owner of the ‘Toy Gallery’ in Beverley will be traveling to Morocco to undertake a big personal challenge, trekking for six days through the Sahara to raise money for an exceptional cause, the Dove House Hospice Love You 2 appeal.
Dove House Hospice is the only adult hospice in this region serving a population of 325,000. The hospice desperately needs to extend its facilities to meet current demands and has launched the Love you 2 appeal to raise £2.5 million towards the re-development of the hospice site at Chamberlain Road.
Dove House Hospice provides specialist palliative care for patients with progressive life limiting illnesses. The care they provide is incredibly special and the money raised through the Love You 2 appeal will be used to build a new 12 bed respite unit. The new facilities will dramatically improve the service they are able to offer patients as well as the number of people they are able to treat.
The Sahara desert stretches from the snow capped mountains of Morocco in the west to the Red Sea coast 4800km to the East.
The landscape varies from a stony flat expanse to wind blown sand dunes and the occasional oasis. During the day the sun is fierce and there is very little shade but at night the temperature drops dramatically and can easily be below zero!
Niki’s group will be aiming to trek 100km through the desert with camels carrying supplies.
Niki has spent several months training, pounding the footpaths around East Yorkshire. However she has also ventured further afield building fitness walking in the Peak District.
She recently enjoyed a tough couple of days walking in the snowy hills of the Lake District the weekend the M6 was closed due to deep snow!! It seems a long way from the heat of the Sahara but was certainly good for the stamina!
Niki is excited but a little bit nervous about the challenge but is determined to just keep putting one foot in frount of the other knowing that it is for such a good cause.
Niki is still looking for sponsorship and would welcome any Beverley business who would be prepared to sponsor her.
Donations in support of Niki’s trek can be made at:
Walkington Village Shop.
The Barrel or Ferguson Fawcett in Walkington.
‘Toy Gallery’, 17 Ladygate, Beverley
or online at:
http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/NikiTrekstheSahara
