MORE THAN 350 charities received donations from the K2B in 2019 and they have really put the money to good use.

With £379,666 being raised in total, there was lots of funds to be distributed amongst the charities who do vital work in the communities they serve.

Several charities have been lucky enough to benefit from this event more than once including St. Mary’s Hospice, Mind, Bay Trust Hospitals Charity to name a few. However it is only recently that the K2B has branched out to further regions that so many more charities get to benefit from this event.

Kendal has been a recent addition to the intake of participants which is why Westmorland based charities, among others, have recently started to benefit more from the K2B.

One example recipient was St.John’s Hospice in Lasncaster.

St John’s take helps residents living in Kendal come to term with life limiting illnesses and provides free palliative care to patients.

The services cover a population area of 250,000 people in North Lancashire, South Lakes and parts of North Yorkshire.

They have been caring for the community every minute of every day since 1986.

Lauren Kelsall, fundraising coordinator at St.John’s Hospice, said: “This year we had 50 people taking part in the Keswick to Barrow, and 38 people in the Coniston to Barrow, all doing it in honour of our charity.

“It is good to get our supporters involved to to the challenge, and we also get a grant from the K2B which is really beneficial.

“In the past we used the money to buy our ‘Tree of Thanks’ which is a mural and supporters can buy an engraved leaf for a loved one."

Catherine Butterworth, director of income generation at St. John’s Hospice, said: “Our organisation provides palliative care to our patients which gives them the comfort of their own home.

“This year was my sixth year taking part in the Keswick to Barrow, and I am looking forward to doing it for a seventh time, we take it up and meet all walks of life.

“It is hard, but when I am walking, I just think that every step that I take means we are helping all those patients, which makes it worth it.

“You never feel like you are walking alone, it is like walking with a big family.

“We have a fundraising office on Highgate in Kendal, so go down to our office and chat with our staff if anyone wants to walk for us.”