A wonderful group of 26 inspirational ladies dubbed ‘Heart & Sole’ from Harrogate, recently walked the distance of a marathon in and around the Harrogate area to raise funds for Candlelighters. Charlotte Broadwith, who organised the event, was inspired after hearing how the pandemic had negatively impacted community fundraising for many charities. She said, ‘Candlelighters is a charity that does so much for families in Yorkshire, including one family close to my heart, and I wanted to help generate some funds that haven’t been raised through the local events’.
With the route set, the energy bars packed and the trainers worn in, each of the 26 ladies set off with hope that the forecast of thunder and lightning would hold off for eight or so hours. With a light drizzle over a lunch donated by Hatmill, the team were hopeful, however at mile 22 a torrential downpour was to join their last few miles!
Originally aiming to raise £6,000, the group of friends spectacularly exceeded this goal – finishing the challenge on over £27,000 raised, to be split between Candlelighters and Saint Michael’s Hospice. Charlotte had the brilliant idea to ask local businesses to sponsor a mile of the walk each, to a fantastic response, and the team boosted their total with a raffle too.
Cleo Tasker, a member of the group whose family have received support from Candlelighters, said, ‘From the moment my son was diagnosed with T-cell lymphoma aged six, the team at Candlelighters stepped in and made the nightmare somehow bearable. Through their never-ending presence on the ward and in the day clinic, we had support through all three-and-a-half years of gruelling chemotherapy. Chemo for Ralph didn’t stop for Christmas or birthdays or a pandemic, but nor did the support that the Candlelighters team offer on a day-to-day basis. It is so important that the support families receive during such an extraordinarily difficult time can continue.’
The walk took eight and a half hours in total and we’d like to say a big thank you to all of the incredible Heart & Sole ladies for their fantastic fundraising efforts which will make a huge difference to the families we support. You are all superstars!
Could you be amazing like Heart & Sole and take on a challenge for Candlelighters? Click here to read our Fundraising Pack to get started.
