At Kirk House, we are proud to celebrate the incredible journey of Leanne, one of the amazing people we support, whose determination and kindness have touched us all. Over the past year, Leanne has dedicated herself to raising funds for Eden Valley Hospice, a cause close to her heart in memory of her late husband, and in gratitude for the exceptional care they both received.
In April, Leanne hosted a bake sale at Kirk House, raising £153 for the hospice. The event brought together staff, people we support, and visitors, who were all eager to support her cause and enjoy her baking efforts. Building on this success, and with encouragement from staff, she began taking daily walks to boost her mood, improve her fitness, and focus her energy. What started as short strolls around the neighbourhood soon developed into a bigger routine, helping her grow in strength and confidence week by week.
By August, Leanne set herself an incredible new challenge: a half-marathon walk. She committed to walking 13.1 miles, something that just a few months earlier she never thought possible. Supported by staff and cheered on by fellow people we support, she trained daily, turning each step into a milestone of strength, healing, and positivity.
When the big day arrived in September, Leanne achieved her goal with courage and determination, completing the full half-marathon distance and raising £135 for the hospice. Everyone at Kirk House was proud to celebrate alongside her, recognising just how far she had come in such a short space of time.
Throughout this journey, Leanne set herself clear personal goals:
The staff at Kirk House have been inspired by Leanne every step of the way:
Daniel Nelson, Support Worker: “Leanne has impressed everyone with her kindness and determination to raise money for a good cause. She is an inspiration to us all and I am so proud of her.”
Kristy Andrews, Support Worker: “Leanne’s determination has been exceptional throughout, and we are all very proud of her achievements.”
Tracy Dray, Support Worker: “Leanne has been amazing with her dedication to her walk; we are all very proud of her.”
Cody Fane Thompson, Support Worker: “Leanne has really proved herself and has shown that you can accomplish anything you set your mind to and should be proud of what she’s achieved.”
Lisa Jarvis, Team Leader: “Leanne set herself this challenge and, with staff support, trained daily. She completed the walk with Bruce and was pleased she was able to raise money for Eden Valley Hospice, which is so important to her.”
Bruce Maclaren, Service Manager: “Leanne is an inspiration to everyone, from the staff team to the people we support. Not only is it inspiring, but truly amazing to see how far Leanne has come since being at Northern Healthcare. I am immensely proud of what she has achieved and what she will achieve moving forward.”
Leanne is already planning her next fundraising challenge for a sponsored bike ride. With her focus, determination, and the support of her team, we know she’ll continue to achieve amazing things.
Leanne’s journey is more than fundraising; it’s about resilience, growth, and turning personal challenges into opportunities to help others. At Kirk House, both staff and the people we support are united in celebrating her remarkable achievements and the positive energy she brings to our community.
