Trekkers in training for Great Wall of China challenge in aid of Lancaster's hospice
A group of supporters from St John’s Hospice will be taking on the challenge of a lifetime next month when they travel to China to trek along the Great Wall.
The 2026 China Trek will mark the hospice’s eighth overseas trekking challenge and its 10th year of trekking. It is also a special return to the destination of St John’s very first trek, as the hospice prepares to celebrate 40 years of caring for local people and their families.
Due to high demand, St John’s Hospice is running two expeditions to China this September. Participants will cover 36km of steep ascents and descents over five days, trekking for six to eight hours each day. One day alone will see the group complete a 13km route, while another will involve a constant incline.
Every step taken by the trekkers will help raise funds for the palliative and end of life care St John’s Hospice provides across North Lancashire, South Lakes and the surrounding areas.
Training is already well under way with participants taking on local hills such as Pendle Hill, practising repeated stair climbs and fitting in early morning sessions from 6.30am to build strength and stamina ahead of the trek.
John and April Towers from Brades Farm at Farleton, near Lancaster, have kindly sponsored the trek kit and will also be taking part in memory of two very special people.
“Supporting the China Trek and raising money for St John’s Hospice is a cause very close to our hearts,” they said.
"We sadly lost our niece Rachel in 2024 and our nephew Dennis in 2023.
“Their outlook on life was to just go for it and ‘fudge’ it, and that is something we all now carry with us. In true Rachel style, this trek is part of that amazing ethos. Our family has seen first-hand just how vital and incredible the care and support provided by St John’s Hospice is for families.
“In memory of Rachel and Dennis, we are determined to complete the trek. We’ll be fudging it all the way.”
Maddy Bass, St John’s Hospice’s director of nursing, who is also taking part in the trek, said: “As Director of Nursing, I see every day the difference St John’s Hospice makes to local patients and families.
"Taking on this challenge is my way of standing alongside our supporters and helping to raise the vital funds needed to keep that care available for the people who need us. It will be physically tough but knowing what we are walking for will keep us going every step of the way.”
Anyone who would like to sponsor the St John’s Hospice China Trek team can donate through the campaign’s JustGiving page.
Every donation, large or small, will help St John’s Hospice continue providing specialist care and support for local patients and families when they need it most.
Just go to www.justgiving.com/campaign/sjhchina2026