Men’s Day Out – Men on the move make a massive difference for hospice care

8th April 2024/inNews, blog, latest news

A record breaking Men’s Day Out

Walking, talking and paying tribute to lost loved ones, big-hearted blokes of all ages strode through the streets of Plymouth on Saturday 6 April, raising funds for the specialist end of life care needed by so many local families.

A record 2,319 men put their best foot forward for Men’s Day Out, ensuring our iconic annual event’s 10th anniversary was extra special. This year’s sell-out walk is set to bring in £130,000, taking the total since its debut in 2014 to just over £1 million.

Men on the move

Mostly sporting distinctive Men’s Day Out T-shirts, with some in eye-catching fancy dress too, the men on the move covered a 12km (7.5 mile) route through the heart of the city, beginning and ending at Plymouth Albion Rugby Football Club at Devonport.

Funding our compassionate care

The funds raised from our sell out event will help St Luke’s continue its compassionate care, free of charge, for people with terminal illness in their last months, weeks and days of life, at home, at Derriford Hospital and in their specialist inpatient unit at Turnchapel.

Men walking in memory

Walking as one, Men’s Day Out participants got to share their precious memories of friends and family members who have died. They also had the chance to open up and talk frankly about the pain of losing a loved one as well as the realities of bereavement. It’s widely recognised that men often struggle to reach out for support and being together on the move provides a rare opportunity to speak freely with others who really understand. Plus, attendance from Samaritans, Andy’s Man Club and Sport in Mind ensured there were trained volunteers available to provide a listening ear for anyone struggling emotionally.

Men’s Day Out is great for having those deeper conversations

Taking part in his tenth Men’s Day Out was Dave Walters from Staddiscombe, walking in memory of two much-loved family members. He said: “I join in every year because St Luke’s is a charity very close to my heart. They looked after my mum Connie at home before she died 18 years ago, and my sister Ros was cared for at Turnchapel before she passed away in 2014. As a family, we miss them so much, but it’s very comforting knowing they both received such superb care.”

Fellow walker Rich Lavers, who lives in Plympton, was participating in tribute to his wife Kate’s best friend Teresa, who was looked after by St Luke’s before sadly, she died seven years ago. He said: “Teresa was a fantastic lady, a really lovely person. When she needed end of life care at Turnchapel, St Luke’s made sure she was really well looked after. But not just that, they were there for all her family, too.

“Terminal illness touches so many lives, but as men we’re not always so ready to open up about our feelings around death and dying. Men’s Day Out is great for having those deeper conversations. It takes the tension away and the walls come down.”

My way of saying thank you to St Luke’s

Also enjoying the camaraderie of the day was Sean Cornish of Mannadon. He said: “Along with my mates, I signed up for Men’s Day Out straight away because I know how important the hospice is to the city. Doing the walk is my way of saying thank-you to St Luke’s team at Derriford for taking such great care of my mum Maureen in hospital before she died in 2022.

“It’s only fitting that she received their kindness because she was such a caring person herself, always thinking of others and dedicated to her work helping adults who have learning disabilities.”

Thank you

Penny Hannah, St Luke’s Head of Fundraising, hailed the tenth-anniversary a huge success. She said: “From 574 guys walking at our first Men’s Day Out in 2014 to a record 2,319 taking part this year, our much-loved event has grown into the biggest of its kind in the South West, possibly even the UK. Most importantly, hundreds upon hundreds of local families have benefited from the specialist care St Luke’s provides, thanks to the sponsorship money raised by our big-hearted walkers. A huge thank you to all our participants over the years, including everyone who joined us this time. You have done your community proud!

“I also want to thank our generous sponsors JEM Scaffolding Ltd, Plymouth Albion RFC, Salcombe Brewery and Sir Fix a Lock Ltd, and pay tribute to the army of support teams and volunteers who kindly give their time to make sure Men’s Day Out runs smoothly.

“As a hospice, we are so fortunate to have such a supportive community behind us. We couldn’t be more grateful for your kindness that means more people with terminal illness can make the most of every precious day with the people who matter most to them. Thank you so much.”

Paying in your sponsorship

We encourage you to pay in your sponsorship money as promptly as possible, either online here or at your nearest St Luke’s charity shop. The faster you do this, the quicker patients and their families will benefit and you raise over £100 you can also be in with a chance of winning exclusive prizes courtesy of Salcombe Brewery and Plymouth Albion RFC.

Pay in your sponsorship money Register your interest for Men’s Day Out 2025

Related articles

, ,

BLOG: How schools can support grieving children and parents

St Luke’s Compassionate Schools programme encourages and empowers conversations in schools and colleges about death and dying so that staff and pupils can help support and comfort children and young people, and their families, when they are facing the loss of someone close. Figures show that one in 29 children in the UK are affected by the terminal illness or loss of a close family member – that’s roughly one child in every classroom. Through our close contact with local families in times of crisis, we know how important it is for grieving children to feel well supported not only by their class teachers, but also by their fellow pupils and other school staff. Adopting the Compassionate Schools ethos means better understanding of bereavement and the emotions associated with it, and an attitude of caring and kindness becomes an integral part of the school day.
, ,

BLOG: Step inside: Explore our specialist unit with our new hospice virtual tour

The prospect of coming to a hospice can be a daunting and scary one. We have tried to ease any uncertainty with our brand-new virtual tour. Thanks to local company Made Snappy 360 who created the virtual tour, you can now step inside the doors of our specialist unit at Turnchapel from the comfort of your home. Whether you are coming to the hospice building yourself, from home or hospital, or visiting a loved one, we hope that by exploring the rooms and gardens any anxiety can be lessened. Many of you, including young children, may have never even stepped foot inside a hospice, so will be unsure of what to expect, but thanks to the virtual tour you can now explore the rooms ahead of time, including the family play room!
, ,

BLOG: A brush with Christmas: Brian Pollard’s festive designs for St Luke’s

It might still be October, but at St Luke’s we’re starting to embrace the festive spirit - and what better way to start than with our brand-new charity Christmas cards, available in all our shops now! This year’s exclusive design has been painted by celebrated local artist and long-time supporter of St Luke’s, Brian Pollard, whose joyful winter scene captures the magic of Plymouth in the snow. We caught up with Brian to hear more about his inspiration and his special connection to St Luke’s.
, ,

BLOG: You can take the lady out of St Luke’s but not St Luke’s out of the lady

St Luke's Hospice Plymouth has reunited with one of its earliest caring hearts during a surprise visit for this special lady on her 95th birthday. Brixton Venn Court resident Joy Ridley, one of St Luke’s first-ever nursing auxiliaries in the 1980s, was visibly moved when Jess Timbrell, a paramedic with the hospice, arrived with flowers and a birthday card for her this week. Although the two women had never met before, they quickly recognised in each other the same unwavering compassion for families affected by terminal illness.
, ,

BLOG: Going above and beyond – Hospice Care Week 2025

Making what seems impossible happen – even the smallest of things - can have a profound effect for those whose time is running short and their families. At St Luke’s, we believe hospice care goes far beyond the physical care – it’s about living well until the very end. Every day, our teams go above and beyond to help patients make the most of the time they have, creating space for joy, connection, and unforgettable moments with loved ones. Whether it’s a final trip to a special place, arranging a wedding, or simply sharing stories over tea, we’re here to make memories happen. This Hospice Care Week (6-12 October 2025) we are shining a light on the compassionate stories that make up St Luke’s and the staff and volunteers that make them happen.
, ,

BLOG: Pedal-powered moorland challenge Tour de Moor supports St Luke’s hospice care

Hundreds of generous-spirited cyclists pedalled with a purpose on Sunday to make this year’s St Luke’s Hospice Plymouth’s Tour de Moor bike challenge a memorable and successful occasion. Wearing striking orange branded T-shirts, more than 900 riders turned the wild landscape of Dartmoor into a thrilling two-wheeler spectacle while raising vital funds to support the charity’s compassionate end-of-life care for local people and their families.
, ,

BLOG: Riding ahead of the pack: Meet Joseph

When 13-year-old Joseph realised that he wouldn’t be able to make it to our Tour de Moor ride on Sunday, he didn’t let disappointment slow him down. Instead, he took on the challenge a week early, determined not to miss out on the event he had been looking forward to all year. Avid bike lover, Joseph Florey, from Sherford, took part in our Tour de Moor with his dad for the first time last year. He loved it so much that he couldn’t wait to do it all over again this year and so signed up as soon as possible. However unfortunately, he is due to undergo an operation just before the big day, meaning he would miss this year’s event. But Joseph was not going to let that stop him from completing the challenge. He got out on his bike at the weekend and battled the weather to ride the 11km route and has raised more than £100 in the process.
, ,

BLOG: Mini-Moor, Mighty effort: Five-year-old Lenny rides for St Luke’s

At just five years old, Lenny Harrison from Plympton is gearing up for a challenge that’s bigger than most children his age would dream of - taking part in the 11km Mini-Moor route of our Tour de Moor. Not only that, but he has already raised over £1,300 for St Luke’s and he hasn’t even crossed the start line yet. Lenny, who turned five in April, lives with his mum and dad, Mica and Dan, and his older brother Parker, who’s nine. He has recently discovered a love for cycling that’s taken off in a big way. “Although he’s been great on a balance bike for a while,” says Dan, “he only really became confident on his current bike around April or May this year. But now it’s clicked, we just can’t keep him off it!”
, ,

BLOG: Mrs M makes her mural magic shine for St Luke’s Guiding Lights

With her signature blend of nature-inspired creativity, her passion for protecting the environment and her strong sense of community spirit, Plymouth artist Ellie Johnson, aka Mrs Murals, is a beacon of enthusiasm for St Luke’s Hospice Plymouth’s Guiding Lights art trail and auction spectacular that’s set to dazzle the city’s streets in summer 2026. As one of two launch artists, alongside St Luke’s patron and celebrated city painter Brian Pollard, in May Mrs M proudly unveiled the design she created for a small scale lighthouse that will travel to different locations across South West and West Devon and into Cornwall in the lead-up to the event, encouraging public engagement and support for the hospice.
PreviousNext

Our Care

Support us

Courses

Information

BLOG: The Running Diaries – PKF Francis ClarkBLOG: The Running Diaries – Lauren Prentice