Isabel Hospice Chain Walk celebrates 10 years
PUBLISHED: 15:02 12 August 2010 | UPDATED: 17:41 20 February 2013

The route, designed and led by the event sponsors Ramblers Worldwide Holidays, will start and finish at their picturesque Head Office, situated in a working water mill, in Lemsford Village
Happy Anniversary to the Isabel Hospice Chain Walk – 10 years old and going strong!

The Isabel Hospice sponsored Chain Walk is celebrating its 10th Anniversary this year with a new 10 mile walk. The route, designed and led by the event sponsors Ramblers Worldwide, will start and finish at their picturesque Head Office, situated in a working water mill, in Lemsford Village, reputedly that referred to in the old Victorian song: There's an old mill by the stream, Nellie Dean
Isabel Hospice fundraiser, Maria Alexander says, 'The idea of the Chain Walk is that the 19 routes make a symbolic chain around our catchment area of 350,000 people in eastern Hertfordshire.
'Each walk, ranging between 3.5 and 12 miles, is a separate link, and is a circular countryside walk, with a break at a local pub for lunch, with the exception of the 3.5 mile walk where lunch is at the end of the walk.
'We are very excited by this new walk and hope that many people will register to experience a lovely day, and raise much needed funds for Isabel Hospice. The Hospice provides free specialist palliative care for local people suffering with cancer and other life-limiting illnesses and has running costs of 4.8 this year.'
The walk leader, Michael Hatch from Ramblers Worldwide explains, 'We always intend to provide more than a walk between A and B. Local knowledge and history add a lot to the enjoyment of a walk, as well as sharing the experience with like-minded people.
'The Brocket Estate, where our walk starts, is alive with history. From the days of Elizabeth I through the excesses of two 19th century prime ministers to the contemporary tale of the missing Ferraris, this grand house with landscaped grounds is the backdrop to some fascinating tales.
'Later the walk passes the edge of Wheathampstead, the presumed location of the last battle between the Ancient Brits and the Romans. We pass by Shaws Corner, George Bernard Shaws home for over 40 years.
'There is some lovely, relatively unknown countryside on this walk, some of it along the River Lea, some through woods and over fields. Walkers
will return to the beautiful setting of The Mill for tea, coffee and cakes where they can also find out more about the walking holidays we offer. As we say, the world is more beautiful on foot!
If you would like to raise funds for Isabel Hospice by taking part in the Chain Walk on September 19, either onthe 10th anniversary route or any of the other routes listed onthe website, contact Maria Alexander on 01707 382500 orvisit www.isabelhospice.org.uk and download an application form.
About the hospice
Isabel Hospice staff and volunteers care for people in eastern Hertfordshire living with cancer and other life-limiting illnesses. Founded in 1982 Isabel Hospice offers a complete service through its team of Community Nurse Specialists, a Day Hospice, three satellite Day Hospices (Thorley, Hoddesdon and Waltham Cross), Hospice at Home, Family Support Service and In-patient Hospice.It is an independent hospice funded mainly by charitable donations.
Care is based on the simple idea that patients are ordinary people living with physical, social, emotional and spiritual needs. The Hospice provides enormous support to families and friends, caring for the patients and all those around them.
Isabel Hospice, Head Office, 61 Bridge Road East, Welwyn Garden City, Herts AL7 1JR. 01707 382500