Walk for Love : About

The Mary Potter Foundation

Since 1987, The Mary Potter Foundation has been generating community support to bring loving care to palliative patients in the care of Calvary SA.

This support provides funding for additional staff, equipment hire, all the programs, practical support, and all the little extras that make palliative care extra special at Calvary.

There are hundreds of ways the Foundation supports patient care each year. From the extra nursing hours, to more individual support such as a soothing massage or a facial, to a family creating mementos through our art program, to a celebration of a special occasion, the taste of a favourite meal, or a visit from the therapy dogs.

The Foundation also provides much-needed practical support for families caring for a loved one at home.

Every patient is different - making their specific needs different.

Our mission is to inspire people to share our belief that caring for people at the end of their life is an honour and a privilege and to work with us to support living every day, every hour.

Thank you for supporting our mission.

History of the Walk

The first Walk for Love fundraising event was in 1987, created by Sue Bardy who was a Mary Potter Hospice nurse and an avid runner. She wanted to honour the many patients she had cared for, so she organised a 10km run through the streets of North Adelaide.

With so many families wanting to sponsor her and some wanting to join her on her run, the event changed from a memorial run to a Walk for Love, raising funds to support patient care.

The Walk is open to anyone. It is not a pre-requisite to have lost a loved one in Mary Potter. However, we find the majority of people who come back each year, have a personal connection.

Whilst the Walk has always been located at North Adelaide, to be close to Mary Potter Hospice and St Helens, now that the Foundation is supporting patient care at Calvary Central Districts, a second Walk, in Elizabeth Vale was started in 2021 (see below).

The staff at Calvary Central Districts Hospital will host a walk in Elizabeth Vale, to honour those in their community who have died in the Mary Potter Northern Supportive Care Unit. Anyone living out north who ordinarily would come to the North Adelaide Walk is welcome to come along to the local Walk if you prefer.

Given COVID-19 restrictions will still be in place, we will be taking every precaution to ensure your safety.

The North Adelaide Walk will have staggered starts throughout the morning to minimise contact with others. When signing up, you will be asked to choose a timeslot to start your walk.

The Elizabeth Vale Walk at Calvary Central Districts Hospital will have walker numbers capped, to ensure the safety of everyone involved.