About The StarWalk
I have walked the Moonwalk in London at various times and been inspired on every occasion. The atmosphere is electric and the bonds you develop with other walkers are ones you will always remember and cherish. I "walked the walk" with my friends, my relatives and my Mum, who was suffering from cancer at the time.
Following the loss of my Mum in 2006, after a six year battle, I could not think of a better way to keep her memory alive, together with the memory of so many others, than by creating our own walk locally. Easier to reserve a place, no major travelling expenses, local people walking for a local charity and ALL for one common cause - to help local patients and families through their cancer journey.
The aim of the event is two-fold. Firstly, to raise awareness of CancerCare and the services we offer and, secondly, to raise much needed funds to help CancerCare keep up with demand.
CancerCare has grown considerably in recent years, enabling us to care for more local people at our two centres, Slynedales in Lancaster and the Lakes Centre in Kendal, with some additional support provided in our other local health care settings, at home, and in the Barrow area. Our services are priceless to the individuals who benefit, but it is only the kindness and generosity of the public that allows us to continue this network of support.
Last year it cost £2823 a day to run CancerCare and all its services. The 2007 StarWalk raised just over £100,000 – enough to pay for all CancerCare services for over a month. To raise so much from one event was a fantastic achievement. In 2008 the money raised from the registration and sponsorship of the StarWalk will again make a significant difference to the lives of local cancer patients and their family members!
The StarWalk is something we planned for quite some time and I am thrilled that it is now a reality. Hopefully the walk will grow each year and become a fantastic annual event that brings together the whole community.
Ladies, get those trainers on and register today! Whether you are walking in memory of a loved one or as a personal challenge, it's an experience you will never forget.
Helen Hartin