Midnight Walk raises £30,000 for Hospice Candle Project!

On Saturday 17 September 2011 hospice supporters burned the midnight oil and walked five miles around the St Christopher’s locality to raise funds for the charity’s Candle Project, which supports bereaved children and young people. Around 200 people took part in the event and the charity hoped that at least £18,000 would be raised. The walkers have now raised over £30,000, surpassing all expectations!

Before they set off on the event, walkers were told about the important work of the Candle Project, and the speakers included the Stokes family who have been supported by Candle since their eldest son was murdered six years ago. The walk was then officially started by comedian Jo Brand.

Community Fundraiser at St Christopher’s, Liz Sowden, said “Thank you so much to our wonderful Midnight Walkers who have raised a phenomenal amount - and an extra special thank you to the volunteers who made the event happen! Thank you to Jo Brand for entertaining us, our sponsor Fidelity Worldwide Investment for generously supporting us, and our media partner the News Shopper. It was a fantastic event and it was lovely to see the community joining together and achieving something for a great cause. We are absolutely bowled over by the amount our walkers have raised and are so grateful for their support of the Candle Project.”

The top fundraiser for the event was Joanna Burgess, who raised a very impressive £7,300. Joanna said “The Candle Project is a cause that means more to my family every day. In 2005, I lost my best friend and husband, but our four children lost their Daddy. At the time their ages ranged from 12 years to six weeks old. Over the last six years the Candle Project at St Christopher's has helped them come to terms with that loss; it has helped them find a vocabulary for something most of us still can't find words to adequately express. It has helped them feel that they are not alone, and taken a great deal of the fear and anxiety from them.”

St Christopher’s is so impressed by the achievements of Joanna and all the Midnight Walkers. After such success they have already set a date for the walk this year: Saturday 13 October 2012. If you would like to register your interest for the Midnight Walk 2012, or find out about other ways you can support the Candle Project, please contact Liz Sowden at e.sowden@stchristophers.org.uk or call on tel: 020 8768 4575.