350 walkers embrace the 1980s during Hospice’s Moonlight Walk

Good weather added to the fund a great atmosphere and high spirits at the annual fund raiser

Around 350 people enjoyed a glorious Saturday evening raising money for the Katharine House Hospice with the return of one of the Hospice’s biggest annual fund raisers.   As the sun set the Moonlight Walk set off from Easington Sports Football Club with walkers choosing from either a six or ten mile route.

The Moonlight Walk usually raises around £45,000 each year.

Bright and effervescent colours were on display with people fully embracing the 1980s theme.

Ahead of the 9pm start to the walk people relaxed in the sunshine and enjoyed music from local family band The Dodgers.

Katharine House’s CEO Trevor Johnson said: “The atmosphere is fantastic – everyone is out having a good time.

With the cost-of-living crisis we know people haven’t got as much to give … there’s a lot more focus to events like this.   We’re trying to grow some of the core things we do, together with new ideas.”

The number of entries for this year’s Moonlight Walk was double those who took part in last year’s daytime event, which was organised within the COVID restrictions that were in place at the time.

The event’s 1980s theme offered people a great opportunity to wear colourful costumes with track suits, tutus and leg warmers on display.   One group even dressed up as characters from the Ghostbusters movie.

Mr Johnson said: “This is when the team really come into their own – we see them come together, we get to be part of the community.   We’re trying to do so much more around that.

“We’ve also got a role to do around what the Hospice is and does.   There’s still a lot of misunderstanding and a fear that Katharine House is a scary place.   It isn’t.   It’s a place of real hope and we help people create lasting memories.

“We make every moment matter for those people that use us, and their families.”

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Published: 18/07/2022 11:13am by Banbury FM Newsteam

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