Woman who lost mother to cancer last year set to join thousands for fundraiser walk
A woman who lost her mother to cancer last year will join thousands of people walking to raise money for hospices next month.
Nicole Wagner, 32, from Crystal Palace, is set to take part in St Christopher’s Fun Walk on May 11.
She will be walking in memory of her mother, Irene Wagner, who died in October 2024, aged 71 after being diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer.
When doctors at Lambeth’s Guy’s Hospital referred Irene to St Christopher’s, the family knew very little about the hospice and what to expect.
Ms Wagner said: “End of life care sounds very daunting and we wanted to keep a positive mindset to the end.
“From the very first time the nurse came to visit Mum, they wanted to understand her wishes and what was important to her. They handled all the difficult conversations delicately and always focused on what she wanted and was best for her.”
Before she passed away, Irene had offered her “heartfelt thanks” to the nurses on their final visit to her home.
Ms Wagner said: “She had formed a real bond with them, and she was very grateful.
“The nurses were so lovely, with a calm, gentle manner. They were great at listening and always wanted Mum to be comfortable with the decisions being made.
“I think she would be glad that we are raising money for St Christopher’s.”
The walk – the charity’s biggest of the year – starts and finishes at Keston Common, Bromley.
Walkers are given a choice of taking on three, five, eight or 11-mile sponsored walks.
Ms Wagner will take on the 11-mile course with her brother and two friends, having already raised £600 for the charity.
She said: “For those not sure about taking on Fun Walk take the leap because every penny counts and there is no such thing as too little.
“You’ll also get the chance to have a really nice walk. You can always set the fundraising bar low to start with like I did and then be pleasantly surprised when you keep hitting it and then keep going.”
Fairground stalls, pop-up shops, food and drink, games, and live music will also offer entertainment along the way.
People can sign up in teams and will be given a dedicated online page where they can compete with others to see who can raise the most money.
A team of dedicated hospice nurses and staff will be walking on behalf of St Christopher’s, raising vital funds for the charity.
Head of fundraising at St Christopher’s, Christine Davies, said: “We’re so excited to return to Keston Common once again for our annual Fun Walk and welcome back thousands of our supporters from across South London.
“Join walkers like Nicole and enjoy a fun-filled day of entertainment, music, and community while supporting our work. We encourage everyone, from young families to those in their older age, to come down.”
To sign up for St Christopher’s Fun Walk on May 11, visit bit.ly/StC_FunWalk2025
It costs £15 to register as an adult or £5 for three to 17-year-olds. Sign-ups on the day are welcome but will cost £20.
Pictured top: Nicole Wagner as a child with her mother Irene (Picture: Nicole Wagner)