Father’s Day 2019 will take on a new significance for many families throughout the Mid-West with the day coinciding with Milford Care Centre’s annual Memorial Walk.
This is a day when family members, friends, co-workers and neighbours partake in a 5km walk from the main Plaza in the University of Limerick and finishing on the grounds of Milford. Participants will walk in solitary with their tribute ribbon, each displaying the name of their loved ones as they embark upon the walk; upon arrival at Milford each ribbon will be carefully placed on the Memorial Tree. The tribute ribbons will then later in the year be placed under the Centre’s Christmas Tree in the Milford Care Centre Chapel as they continue to remember with love.
Launching the Memorial Walk, which takes place on Sunday, 16 June, commencing at 12 noon, Milford Care Centre Chief Executive Pat Quinlan said: “We are always amazed at the numbers that take part in this very special memorial walk. Their loved ones may not necessarily have been with us here in Milford, but they just find a walk of this nature, where they carry a ribbon bearing the name of their loved one, a fitting way to remember them and akin to having them by their sides as they walk. Everyone is welcome to come along. It’s simply a matter of registering online.”
One family that is glad to have an opportunity like this to remember their loved one are the Cunningham-Hassetts from Ennis who will be doing the walk in memory of the late Sheila Cunningham who was cared for at home by Milford Care’s Centre Hospice At Home team. As daughter Sheila explains: “This will be our third year in a row to do the walk in Mum’s memory. It’s a lovely way to give something back to Milford. We wanted to care for Mum in her last months and could not have done so without the help and dedication of the Milford staff. We were so blessed to have them.
“Doing the walk is a wonderful way for us to remember Mum and joining so many others who are walking in memory of their loved ones is a great bonding experience. We get special tee-shirts designed each year and I know Mum will be smiling down on our colourful family group as as we walk the 5k. We are gaining numbers every year as our extended family join us and we hope to see an even bigger number of walkers from all parts of the Mid-West partake in the Memorial Walk this year.”
The Cunningham-Hassetts are calling on everyone in Clare and beyond to get their walking shoes on and join them on this special Memorial Walk, which takes place on Sunday, 16 June.
Advance registration is essential. Simply log onto www.milfordcarecentre.ie or call 061 485859 and fill in the names of those wishing to participate. Entry is €20 with free entry for children under 16. All funds raised go to support the work of the hospice service throughout the Mid-West, including Limerick.