A MOTHER whose daughter died at the age of 28 has completed Dorothy House Hospice Care’s 2017 Bath Moonlight Walk with support from family and friends.

Mary Williams, from Trowbridge, took place in the sponsored 8km walk in Bath on Saturday, September 9 as one of the 650-plus women taking part.

The walk was a real family affair, as Mary was accompanied by her sister Helen Carter and her niece Lisa Carter, and Mary’s husband, Kim Williams, was a support marshal for the event.

In addition, Mary’s friends Julie Hill, Sue Fletcher, Rosie Jewel, Noreen Shonfeld, Sue McGeevor and one of Alice’s friends from Bristol, Katie Draper, made up the rest of ‘Team Alice.’

Mrs Williams wanted to support Dorothy House, a charity close to her heart since her much-loved daughter, Alice Brailey, was cared for by the hospice before she died of cancer in 2015 aged 28 years. Since then, Alice’s close family have raised over £10,000 in a Dorothy House Tulip Fund in memory of her.

Mary said: “There was a tremendous buzz before the start of the walk on Saturday and it was a very uplifting atmosphere. It was also very poignant because everyone was united in walking in memory of a loved one they’ve lost. Raising money for the hospice is our way of saying thank you for the wonderful support we received at Dorothy House when Alice was ill.”

The women-only walk, now in its 11th year, kicked off at 10pm from the SouthGate Shopping Centre. The event began with a pre-party from 8pm that included music, stalls and a raffle competition to win a Mulberry handbag worth over £1,000. Butlers in the Buff made an appearance and there was a fun warm-up session before the start.

The annual Bath Moonlight Walk helps Dorothy House raise vital funds to care for people with life-limiting illnesses in B&NES, Somerset and Wiltshire. This year’s theme for the Walk was ‘Saturday Night Divas’ in a celebration of the people affected by end of life care in our community.

Dorothy House events fundraiser Emily Knight said: “The atmosphere throughout the evening was amazing and the enthusiasm of the walkers was truly heart-warming to see.”

To find out about the hospice and how to send in your sponsorship money or donate please visit www.dorothyhouse.org.uk or call 01225 721 480.