Now in its fifth year, the 10K sponsored Sparkle Walk on Friday 17 May started with Dance 21 Woodford kicking off the fun with an energetic warmup at St Mary with Christ Church in Wanstead Place. 

Dressed in vibrant purple, our signature colour, participants lit up the streets with an array of glitter, fancy dress, sparkles and smiles.

Reiko Murray, Head of Mass Participation Fundraising at Haven House, said: “Haven House is a charity which couldn’t exist without the support of our local community. It was incredible to see people of all ages stepping up to raise money for the hospice. With the sun shining on us, we couldn’t have asked for a better evening.

“A special thank you to our event sponsor Bowden Bradley and to our all our volunteers who came out in force to marshal the route.”

The youngest participant at just seven years old was Niki who completed the walk with her mum Bobi, with the eldest walker being an amazing 85 year old man from India who

Preschool manager Shraddha Patel had the honour of cutting the ribbon at the starting line. Having taken part in the walk for the last four years and having raised more than £3,000 for the hospice’s vital care services.  

Shraddha, who completed the walk with colleagues, said:

“I have lived and worked on Woodford High Road for 24 years, so this wonderful charity is on my doorstep. Haven House’s services provide a vital source of strength when children and their families need it most. Everyone involved with and working at the hospice are just superheroes in my opinion. I am just playing a very small part in raising some funds which will allow the charity to continue supporting many more families in the future. “

In total 346 walkers completed the route around Wanstead, Woodford and South Woodford before finishing at the Cuckfield Pub with a glass of fizz. The team has raised an incredible £40,110 which will support our hospice in caring for seriously ill children and their families.

View our gallery of Sparkle Walk 

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