Arthur Rank Hospice Charity is delighted that celebrity supporter Cliff Parisi – known for playing Fred Buckle in ‘Call the Midwife’ and previously Minty in ‘EastEnders’ - has lent his good-humoured support to their annual Star Shine Walk. The actor donned a luminous red wig and recorded several video messages (you can see these on their Facebook Page) for the Charity, encouraging people to sign up to the virtual version of the event, which starts this Saturday (23 May).
Now in its twelfth year, the new virtual ‘lock-down friendly’ version of the event, invites households to take on the 20,000 step challenge. Participants will be “walking shoulder to shoulder” with Arthur Rank Hospice’s frontline care teams who continue to deliver vital care during the pandemic.
In fact, several of the Hospice’s frontline team based at the Hospice Shelford Bottom and North Cambs Hospital sites, are using the event as motivation to get moving. On Friday 22nd May, the day before the event officially launches, a team of nurses, administration and facilities staff – and the Charity’s CEO Sharon Allen – are attempting to accumulate 20,000 steps together during the course of their socially-distanced working day. Anyone can keep tabs on their progress during the day, as well as donate, by heading to their sponsorship page.
Angeline Liles, Events Officer, explains: “We’re delighted that our colleagues based at the Hospice (Cambridge) and Day Treatment Centre (Wisbech) are taking part in our virtual Star Shine Walk and doing a Friday “warm-up”. The event then starts officially at 10am on Saturday, with a special Cliff Parisi/Arthur Rank Hospice Charity style countdown! It will then be over to you!
Please share your photos, video snippets, thoughts and motivations with us via the Event Page on Facebook, or by posting on social media using #StarShineWalk20. We would love for the virtual version of our event to have same sense of energy, enthusiasm and celebration that the real-life version of the event is famed for!”
Depending on their own situation and fitness level, participants taking part in the virtual Star Shine Walk can chose a day or evening to take all 20,000 steps (which equate to around 10 miles), or spread the total over two weeks until Saturday 6 June. Walkers can take part as an individual, as a household or with one other person whilst observing social distancing rules and current government guidance (as of Tuesday 19 May 2020).
The local community have been as supportive as ever to the Hospice, embracing the change of plan. Headline sponsors The Cambridgeshire Care Home has entered teams of staff and residents, who will each be accumulating 20,000 steps over the two-week period. Over thirty members of Sing! Choirs, based in Cambridge and Ely, have created their own ‘Sing ’n’ Walk’ to raise vital funds for the Hospice, and a team of twelve from Redmayne Arnold & Harris leapt at the chance to take steps towards supporting the Hospice.
Oliver Hughes, Director and Head of New Homes at the company, explains their commitment to raising funds for the Hospice: “We are pleased to have chosen the Arthur Rank Hospice as our main charity to support this year. They do an amazing job for so many patients and their families; and a number of our team hold the Hospice close to our hearts for personal reasons. The Star Shine Walk is one of many events we will be participating in this year to raise funds for the Hospice and we are excited to join in the fun.”
The Hospice’s own Voluntary Services Manager Hannah Touhey has also pledged to celebrate her 30th birthday in (lockdown) style. She and her sister hope to raise £300 in sponsorship by walking 10 miles per day for seven consecutive days.
To find out more or register to take part, visit starshinenightwalk.co.uk. Registrations are still accepted at any point during the event period of 23 May – 6 June 2020. Alternatively you can contact the events team on 01223 675888, or by emailing fundraising@arhc.org.uk.