Act 4 of 30: Walking with Purpose

Last week, members of the Premier Community team laced up their walking shoes, added a little sparkle, and joined hundreds of others for Ashgate Hospice’s Sparkle Night Walk. 

The event took place on Saturday 27 June 2026 at 10pm, starting from Chesterfield Football Club, as walkers took on the 10k route to help raise vital funds for families across North Derbyshire. 

For us, this was more than a fundraising walk. It was one of our 30 for 30 acts of community kindness, marking Premier Community’s 30th year by giving back to the people, places and causes that matter to our colleagues, customers and local communities. 

And for one member of our team, this act of kindness was deeply personal. 

Why Ashgate Matters to Sue 

Sue wanted to take part in the Sparkle Night Walk in memory of her husband, who was cared for by Ashgate Hospice after being diagnosed with bowel cancer. 

When he arrived at Ashgate, his family had been told he may only have days left. What followed was not just clinical care, but comfort, dignity and small moments that meant everything. 

Sue remembers how the team at Ashgate helped make his final days calm and stress-free. Her husband was given a foot spa, which he described as “epic”. They made him special soup and sorbet. After time in hospital where eating had become difficult, being able to enjoy food again became another moment of joy. 

These may sound like simple things. A bowl of soup. A foot spa. A kind word. A little time taken to understand what someone needs. 

But in end-of-life care, simple things are often the biggest things. 

For Sue and her family, Ashgate gave them comfort when they needed it most. It gave her husband dignity, peace and moments of genuine happiness in his final days. That care has stayed with Sue ever since. 

From Gratitude to Giving Back 

After losing her husband, she felt called towards care in a new way. 

Sue has worked in care and support roles for many years, including 20 years in non-clinical NHS roles and time as an NHS 111 advisor before, during and after COVID. 

She explains that his experience at Ashgate became part of the reason she moved into care, giving her “a purpose of wellbeing, usefulness and help”. Today, Sue says she feels great satisfaction and pride working for Premier Community, and she hopes to specialise in end-of-life care as the next step in her journey. 

That is what makes this walk so meaningful. 

Sue was not walking because of loss alone. She was walking because care made a difference. She was walking because kindness mattered. She was walking because the support her husband received has become part of the care she now wants to give others. 

Celebrating Care, One Step at a Time 

At Premier Community, we see every day that care is not only about tasks. It is about people. It is about trust, dignity, patience and noticing the little things that make someone feel human, safe and valued. 

That is why Ashgate’s work resonates so strongly with us. 

Hospice care supports people and families at some of the most difficult moments of their lives, but it also creates space for comfort, choice, memories and love. Sue’s story is a powerful reminder that care does not have to be loud to be life-changing. Sometimes it is quiet. Sometimes it is practical. Sometimes it is a spoonful of soup, a foot spa, or someone making sure your final days feel peaceful. 

We are proud to support Ashgate Hospice as part of our 30 for 30 campaign, and we would be incredibly grateful for any donation, share or cheer from our community. 

Every step helps raise funds for local hospice care. Every donation helps Ashgate continue to be there for families when it matters most. 
 
Together, we walked for Sue’s husband, for Ashgate, for local families, and for the power of care done with heart.