By Leicester Mercury | Posted 2 Mar, 2012
The LOROS hospice is hoping to collect £6,000 from its first Paws 4 a Cause walk at Abbey Park, Leicester, tomorrow.? Some 300 owners have registered for the event, and people are also invited to turn up on the day.
Lynne Jefferies, a teaching assistant from Wigston, is taking part in memory of her husband, Robert, who died at the hospice almost five years ago. The Groby Road charity also provided support for her and her children. Mrs Jefferies, 59, will be taking her Westie, Maxi, on the walk.
She said: "LOROS was marvellous to Robert and the family and when I heard about the event I wanted to take part". "Maxi can't wait, he loves walks."
Mrs Jefferies works at Water Leys Primary School, in Wigston, and has been sponsored by colleagues and friends. "I am hoping to raise at least £300," she said.
Bernadette Fenn, a part-time fundraiser for LOROS, came up with the idea for tomorrow's event. She said: "I read about a similar event organised by another hospice about a year ago.
"As I have a dog, I thought it would be something we could do and we have been working on organising the project since then.
"I am delighted we have 300 dogs now registered for Paws 4 a Cause."
The dog walk starts from the Abbey Park bandstand at 11am, with staggered starts until 1pm.
LOROS aims to enhance the quality of life of patients with cancer, progressive neurological conditions and end stage heart, renal and respiratory failure.
It needs to raise £4 million a year to keep running its services, which include a 31-bed inpatient unit, a palliative day therapy unit and a counselling service for patients and their families.
Fundraiser Rebecca Hopper said that they were hoping to raise £6,000 from tomorrow's event.
She said: "People who turn up on the day can pay £10 in lieu of sponsorship. There will be prizes for the most sponsorship money raised."
Every dog that completes the route around the park will be given a rosette and a goody bag.
