Published: Thursday, 7th May, 2009 6:30am

Leader: More than just a walk in the park

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AS THE saying goes, the two certainties in life are death and taxes.

However it sticks in the craw that despite a lifetime of faithfully paying up, when it comes to our final days it all too often falls to the charitable sector to step in.

Fortunately, as many from Reading and the surrounding area who have had cause to visit Sue Ryder Care's hospice at Nettlebed will testify, its staff are dedicated to providing free and excellent care to those who need it.

Along with the Duchess of Kent House Hospice in Southcote, it tries to bridge the gap between hospital treatment and home comforts, to provide support during the final months and ease sufferers through their final hours with dignity.

It costs £1.4m a year to keep Nettlebed's hospice serving Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire - a drop in the ocean compared to estimates of £5bn for ID cards and anywhere from £20bn to £76bn to renew Trident. Let's not even mention MPs' second homes.

It is testament to the hospice's achievements that 600 women from Berkshire - supported by partners and families - will be stepping out at midnight on Saturday to help keep it running.

The Chronicle is proud to support the Midnight Walk at Green Park, the first of its kind in the town.

These are straitened times, but as the 600 walkers have already received pledges of £25,000 in sponsorship so far, perhaps the Government could chip in some loose change.