Over 600 people had a ‘splashing time’ as they took to the streets of St Helens and Knowsley as part of Willowbrook Hospice’s annual Moonlight Colour Walk on Saturday 9th June.
Now in its 12th year, walkers got in the mood with entertainment provided by DJ Terryoake, dancers from the Jan Williams Theatre School and a fabulous warm-up from Glow-Fit.
Just before the start of the walk, the sky turned into a sea of pink as people remembered and celebrated the lives of their loved one with a special balloon release.
Following a countdown from Willowbrook’s Fundraising Manager, Nichola Saunders, the walkers were off with many choosing to take part in a special colour splash before taking on either the original 10 km route or a ‘mini moonlight’ of 6km.
On their return, every walker received a well-earned Moonlight Walk medal and refreshments.
Nichola Saunders, Head of Fundraising at Willowbrook Hospice said: “This year’s Moonlight Walk was amazing and it was lovely to see so many people coming together to remember their loved ones and to help raise much needed funds to ensure that we as a hospice can continue to care and support our patients and their families. On behalf of Willowbrook I’d like to thank every single person who was involved with the event, whether as a walker, a steward or a volunteer!”
Willowbrook Hospice has been open since 1997 and costs over £4.5million a year to run, the majority of which needs to be raised through the effort of the communities which it serves.
Diane Humphreys, Senior Fundraiser at Willowbrook would like to extend thanks to the following people and organisations for their generous help and support in making the event a success: Barrs Soft drinks, Terryoake, Jan Williams Theatre School, Morrisons, Tesco, The Olive Grove, NSG, Glow-fit, Phil Durrans and family, The St John’s Ambulance, Rotary Clubs – St Helens and Prescot.
We’ve just received some more photos of Saturday’s Moonlight Colour Walk! pic.twitter.com/0q8U8rbls3
— Willowbrook Hospice (@wbhospice) 12 June 2018
Thanks so much to Janette Landon who got in touch to tell us that the label attached to the Moonlight Walk balloon from the Fisher Family landed in Willow Farm Urmston. It landed in the most peaceful place amidst fields of horses and tree’s full of tweeting birds. pic.twitter.com/NGS6yseYJT
— Willowbrook Hospice (@wbhospice) 12 June 2018
Our “Walkers for Willowbrook Hospice” team were privileged to help raise money for this worthy cause. We all ended up with sore feet but worth it for the experience @wbhospice #sthelens #Moonlightwalk pic.twitter.com/uYdQZsJMh0
— St Helens CAB (@StHelensCAB) 11 June 2018
It was such a lovely evening. All of the volunteers & marshals did a grand job. pic.twitter.com/v94jJLywbm
— Beverley Dixon (@celebpa) 11 June 2018
The Moonlight Walk is such a brilliant event @wbhospice We had a great time, and delighted to receive both a medal & a bacon roll at the end. Same time next year! ? pic.twitter.com/1QKSCXIIVs
— Beverley Dixon (@celebpa) 10 June 2018