Walk for Hope raises £12,000

Our third Walk for Hope has raised £12,000 for local people living with cancer. 

Our flagship fundraising event, which was due to be held in the New Forest in June, returned in a different format on Sunday 6 September because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Our patron, Harry Redknapp, urged local people to step up and walk five, ten or 20 miles ‘their way’ – on their own or with friends and family, at their own pace and wherever they chose.  Almost 100 people took up the challenge and together have raised £12,000 to provide emotional and practical support for local people living with cancer.

Nikki’s Angels, a group of eight friends, walked in memory of their beloved friend, Nikki Piper, who passed away earlier this year aged 37.

The group walked five miles around Dinton, near Salisbury, a city where many of the group spent time with Nikki. They’ve raised over £1,600.

Nikki’s husband James, said:

“A big thank you to everyone who contributed to our fundraising walk. It was a lovely opportunity to get together (socially distanced of course) and do something positive in memory of our beautiful girl Nikki.”

The event was sponsored by Irwin Mitchell Solicitors. Solicitor, Alice Doherty, said:

“Irwin Mitchell has supported Walk for Hope, as well as members of our Southampton office taking part, for the past three years, and it was absolutely wonderful to learn that the current pandemic was not going to stop Wessex Cancer Support running the event, albeit slightly differently. The team does such wonderful work and it was a pleasure to be able to support and take part once again. Despite not all being able to walk together, the effort that went into building an online community of support for Walk for Hope was fantastic, and a true testament to what Wessex Cancer Support is able to provide.”

Chris Bryant, Managing Director at Drive Personnel, who sponsored the walkers’ t-shirts said:

“Cancer is something closer to our hearts, so what better cause than to sponsor something which supports local people in their time of need.”  

We will use all of the money raised to provide practical and emotional support to anyone living with cancer in Hampshire, Dorset and the Isle of Wight.

We’ve supported 1,600 people through our remote support centres, choirs and Daisy Bus patient transport since the coronavirus pandemic forced it to close its centres on 23rd March.