Record numbers make Starlight a night to remember!
A record 1,260 ladies dressed in pink, took to the streets at midnight on Saturday for the second annual Starlight Walk. The event organised by the Peace Hospice is expected to raise in the region of 200,000.
The walk was started at midnight outside the Colosseum with former Spandau Ballet and Eastender’s star Martin Kemp setting the women off on the 13 mile course. The walk was led by Martin’s wife Shirlie who has also tasted stardom as a backing singer with 80’s band Wham and one half of duo band, Pepsi and Shirley. The route took the Starlight Walkers through the high street, passing Bushey Arches, down Rickmansworth Road, through Croxley Green and back into Cassiobury Park. The quickest walker completed the course in just under 2.5 hours with the final walkers making it back by 4.30am.
The event’s main sponsors were Herts Mercury Radio 96 6, SA Law, McCarthy & Stone, The Grove, Total, Barclays, Pac 3000, PartyLite, RBS, Skanska, Aneatasign, RMA Consulting Engineers LLP.
The Hospice’s Director of Fundraising Jim Swindells said ‘The night was a fantastic occasion and it was amazing seeing so many women dressed in pink heading down the high street. It’s a night that everyone involved in the event will never forget!
The Hospice has to raise 3.3 million this year and over 80% of this has to be raised through voluntary contributions. The Starlight Walk is going to make a huge difference to us’.
The Hospice’s Community Fundraising Manager Gill Crowson said ‘The atmosphere was fantastic amongst everyone involved! I would like to thank all the women that took part in the Starlight Walk and would also like to thank our many helpers and volunteers. Without them, we simply couldn’t have put on an event of this magnitude’.
One walker, Rhiannon Le Beau, aged 21 from Watford said ‘I was absolutely petrified about the walk, as I’ve never done anything like this before. It was an amazing atmosphere and a great buzz. I loved going through Cassiobury Park with the scented candles - it looked and smelt great’!
Another walker, Indy Theventhiran from Watford said ‘It’s the first time that I’ve walked for the Hospice and it was a great experience. I wore my bright pink t-shirt with a hat which my daughter Mimi from San Diego, made and sent over for me to wear on the night. The marshalls on route were fantastic - they encouraged us all the way’.
A new online registration form for Starlight Walk '09 will be available from the beginning of July on this website.
Don't forget to visit the Hospice website on www.peacehospice.org.uk
