Rise and shine for hospice

Following the success of last year’s inaugural event, which saw 300 walkers raise £48,000, this flagship Shooting Star Chase challenge event is back and looking for even more people to join in the fun.

Shooting Star Chase is a leading children’s hospice charity caring for babies, children and young people with life-limiting conditions, and their families.

The care and support we provide doesn’t stop throughout the night so neither does our fundraising. There’s no better feeling than knowing you’ve helped to make a big difference to local children and their families and all before breakfast!

The Sunrise Walk will take place at 4.30am on 1 June 2014. The walkers will begin and finish at the stunning 17th Century stately home Ham House.

The route of the walk means walkers will be able to see some of the best sights that London has to offer such as Richmond Park and Hampton Court Palace with views across the Thames and City of London. The entry fee also includes a t-shirt to mark the event, refreshments along the route, a commemorative medal and a well-deserved breakfast.

Leanne, a mum supported by Shooting Star Chase, took part in the event last year and found it a powerful way to help remember her little girl, Isabelle.

“I took part in the Sunrise Walk with my group ‘Isabelle’s Angels’,” explains Leanne, who has found fundraising in memory of Isabelle a way to cope.

“It was such a beautiful route through some of London and being able to walk in Isabelle’s memory made it really special. Each breath and step allowed me to think of her and feel close. When the sun came up I felt like she was shining down on us.”

Emma Willshire, Challenge Events Fundraiser at Shooting Star Chase said: “We are hoping that 400 people will join us on this year’s Sunrise Walk and show their support for families in our community who have a child with a life-limiting condition.

“We know that the parents we support often find night times the hardest, caring for a child throughout the night or spending time awake worrying what the future holds. That’s why we want people to show their support by getting up at the crack of dawn and walking to help us raise enough money to give some of our families a good night sleep.”