Sleepwalkers step up hospice effort
Hundreds of people donned pyjamas and dressing gowns for the first Forget Me Not Sleepwalk in aid of Beaumond House Community Hospice, Newark.
Glowsticks, torches, hot water bottles and teddy bears were carried around Newark Showground by those who took part in the event on Saturday evening.
Participants of all ages completed the one-mile walk, with many people singing as they completed the course in the dark.
Several wore sheets pinned to their back bearing the names of loved ones in whose memory they were doing the walk.
More than £3,500 has already been raised for the hospice through entry fees for the event. Much more is expected to be raised through sponsorship.
The events co-ordinator for Beaumond House, Mrs Liz Norton, said they had raised more than anticipated.
She said: “We were aiming for about £1,000 but we have actually smashed that.”
Because the Sleepwalk was sponsored by local businesses, all the entry fees went to the hospice.
Mrs Norton, who wore leopard skin-style pyjamas, said many people commented on how moving the event was.
She said having the walk in the dark, with torches to light the way, added to the atmosphere.
“People really went to town with the writing on their memory sheets,” she said.
On her sheet, Mrs Norton had simply written “for my mum,” in memory of Mrs Jean Gorst, who died of breast cancer aged 43.
Mrs Norton’s daughter, Ella (10) a pupil at John Blow Primary School, Collingham, also completed the walk.
The school’s bell was used to signal the start at around 7pm.
Although it was not a race, friends Harry McGillian (9) of Martin Road, Newark, and Beth Callingham (8) of Rowan Way, Balderton, ran the mile course around the showground to finish first.
The last people to complete the walk arrived at the finish at 7.30pm.
The chief executive of the Newark and Nottinghamshire Agricultural Society, Mr Adrian Johnston, said it was great that the showground could host the event.
“Every family has regrettably got someone who has died of cancer,” he said.
“It is quite choking when you see the dedications on the backs of some people.”
Mr Johnston said members of The Grove Gymnastics Club, who now train at the showground, put on a special performance for participants while they waited in the registration area.
Also lending their support was the Newark branch of Starbucks, which provided free hot drinks. Customers were asked to make a donation to the hospice in return.