"I am challenging myself to face my fears"
Someone wise once said that a challenge is only a challenge if you don't want to do it. Please believe me when I say that taking on the Thames Hospice Sierra Nevada Trek is going to be a challenge for me for three reasons:
1. I am terrified of heights, to the point that the entire colour drains from my face, I go quiet and sometimes cannot move.
2. I am a huge fan of indoor plumbing and apparently there are no toilets on a mountainside (who knew!)
3. I am not very fit (possible understatement here).
So why am I doing this trek?
I have the absolute privilege of being the Director of Patient and Family Services at Thames Hospice and lead all of the clinical and therapeutic teams. I have worked for the Hospice for more than 18 years and not a day goes by when I am not inspired by the bravery of the people that we care for. They face challenges every day and that humbles me. I also take immense pride in the staff and volunteers who regularly go over and beyond to care for the people we serve.
So I have decided to challenge myself; to be brave even when I will be scared; to stretch myself physically and emotionally to achieve something that I think I will be proud of.
I am walking with a team of Hospice staff and supporters and I hope that, despite the 'tough trek for those with an adventurous spirit', we will have a lot of fun doing this.
Jacquie Batchford, Director of Patient and Family Services
