Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the park, the vampires, ghosts, werewolves and zombies are on the march again. Yes, Spooky Season is back with a vengeance!
As the leaves start to fall, the region’s favourite family-fun event returns. If you’re looking for ways to keep the kids happy in the run-up to Hallowe’en, don’t worry – it’s just a walk in the park: Sherdley Park, to be precise.
So, choose your crazy costumes, dust off your waterproof boots and join the thousands of kids, mums and dads, grans and grandads digging the fang-tastic fun of the annual Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation ‘Spooky Welly Walk’.
It takes place on Saturday 27th October and starts at the children’s play area in Sherdley Park. The St Helens Spooky Welly Walk is presented in partnership with Arriva buses.
This year’s event promises even more games, side-shows and attractions to entrance your little monsters, including:
- The Watermill Wolves – will they have you howling? See for yourself in the meet and greet zone
- Creepy Crafts – get creative in the activity station
- Terrifying (temporary) tattoos stall – make your mark with something gruesome
- Goodies to go – free food samples, kindly donated by Nairn, to help fuel your way round the Spooky Welly Walk
- Spot the Beastie – join Chester Zoo’s team to guess which noise, smell and fur belongs to which animal
- Fun games from Little Sports Coaching – including Zorb Football
- Strike a Pose at the Dreadful Dinner and Terrible Toilets photo booths. Post your pics using the #spookywellywalk hashtag, and let your mates see you’re the ‘coolest of the ghoulest’
- Action Dash – on your marks, get set, go, for this fun-filled frantic scamper down a mini obstacle course, especially for younger speedsters
- Mucky Monkeys – your chance to get messy
- Balloon rides, Toy Town vehicles or ‘Mini Miami’ – all the fun of the mini fairground
- The World-Famous Yucky Dip – dare you chance your arm, clawing your way through the monsters’ lairs to win a special Spooky prize?
- Mountain Monkeys! Scramble up the climbing wall – but don’t look down!
- Test your soccer skills at the Football Tournament Stand, courtesy of Parkdale Sidac FC, the North West FA Community Club of the Year
And even more surprises to be announced on the day!
Every child who finishes the Spooky Welly Walk will receive a medal from the charity’s very own mascot, Samantha the Panther.
As ever, it’s all in aid of a great cause – helping Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation in their efforts to find better ways to treat the UK’s biggest cancer killer, and to support people living with it.
Josh Worrall, the charity’s events manager, said: “We’re amazed at how many people come out to support the Spooky Welly Walk.
“Last year, 10,000 people donned their wellies and best Halloween fancy dress, helping us to raise an astonishing £58,000. This helps us to support thousands of people living with lung cancer – patients, carers and their families.”
You can book your walk for either the morning session, which runs from 11am to 1.45pm or the afternoon slot, between 2pm and 5pm. You can start at any time during your chosen session but allow at least two hours to complete all the activities and finish the walk.
Entry is £4 for adults and children if booked in advance, or £5 on the day. Children under two always enter for free. To book online, visit www.roycastle.org/spooky, or for more information, ring 0333 323 7200, or check out the charity’s Facebook page for details.
A booking fee of 50p applies to each ticket. If you register in advance, bring your e-ticket to the hut at the start of the walk to exchange it for your wristbands and event guide.
You can also register on the day by going to the registration tent where you can choose to pay by cash or card. All other activity stations are cash only. Early bird prices do not apply on the day.
New for this year, the charity has launched an interactive Spooky Fundraising page, making it fun and easy to raise even more money to help patients and their families.
Simply raise £50 to light up a pumpkin on the page – it will shine brightly in support of all those affected by lung cancer. As a reward, when you arrive at the event, each child will receive a golden ticket to access a paid activity of their choice for free, as well as a treat courtesy of Hotel Chocolat.
Josh added, “Every penny is vital to our work – every 15 minutes someone is diagnosed with lung cancer in the UK. £35 could fund one hour of lung cancer research, £60 could pay for a day of training for a lung cancer nurse, while £175 could provide a grant for patients in need.
“This new fundraising page is quick and easy to set up and can be shared with family and friends through social media, Whatsapp or by email. Alternatively, you can set up an online fundraising page at www.justgiving.com/roycastle or download the sponsorship form, to raise money offline”.
