Walk to Remember
Walk to Remember is Marie Curie’s series of 10k fundraising walks. They take place in the evening, between July and September each year, and are held in a variety of location across the UK. Locations include parks, country houses and National Trust sites.
Participants fundraise before and after the event, raising money to help Marie Curie provide free care and support for people living with a terminal illness and their families. It is also an in memory event, where walkers remember loved ones.
History
Walk to Remember was first launched as Walk Ten in 2010. That year 12 walks were held, with 3,312 walkers taking part. Over £300,000 was raised.
The following year, 2011, Walk Ten grew to include 17 locations. For 2012, 25 events were held, doubling the money raised in 2010, and attracting 11,114 walkers, almost four times the amount from the opening year.
For 2015, Walk Ten became Walk to Remember. The name change was in response to an increasing number of walkers choosing to remember a loved one as they took part. 17 events will be held in 2015, and the aim is to attract 13,000 walkers (more than 2014 and the highest amount in one year to date) and raise over £1.1 million.
Format
All Walk to Remember events follow a similar format. Participants take part in the 10 km walk, and after are able to picnic in the grounds of the venue. This is then followed by entertainment, including live music, and either fireworks or a display from fire performers.
The most poignant moment is at 10pm, when a Marie Curie Nurse reminds walkers about their work in the community and gives participants the chance to remember a loved one. The 10pm time slot is chosen to coincide with the time Marie Curie Nurses begin their shifts around the UK.
Key facts
Since the first Walk Ten, almost 48,000 people have taken part, raising over £3 million.
In 2014, Walk Ten was listed as the 20th biggest mass participation fundraising event in the UK.[1]
Many Walk to Remember venues are National Trust properties. For 2015 these include Osterley Park in London, Gibside in Gateshead, Speke Hall in Liverpool, Tatton Park in Cheshire, and Wakehurst Place in West Sussex.
Celebrity supporters
Since 2012, Julia Bradbury has supported Walk Ten and Walk to Remember by providing voiceovers for the event’s TV and radio adverts.
Edwina Curry also participated in Walk Ten Tatton Park in 2013.
Rugby star Niall O’Connor and DJ and presenter Carolyn Stewart took part in the 2012 Stormont Estate walk [2] Emmerdale cast members Jeff Hordley and Zoe Henry supported the charity walk in 2013 [3]
References
- ↑ http://www.thinkmass.co.uk/the-massive-top-20/4585609251
- ↑ http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/famous-faces-encourage-northern-ireland-to-walk-ten-for-marie-curie-cancer-care-28764173.html
- ↑ http://www.morleyobserver.co.uk/news/emmerdale-stars-support-walk-ten-in-leeds-for-marie-curie-nurses-1-5789530