Surrey children's hospice charity Sunrise Walk in June
It is to raise funds to help support babies and youngsters with life-limiting conditions
Surrey charity Shooting Star Children's Hospices is asking us to pick a day next month to take part in a Virtual Sunrise Walk.
It's to help raise funds to support babies and youngsters with life-limiting conditions in our area.
Walkers are being encouraged to take part when it suits them - any day from the first to the 27th June.
And if taking on the challenge with the family, the charity has created a special activity sheet to keep children occupied during and after the walk.
Emma Newman is a teacher at Portesbery School in Camberley, where several children are supported by Shooting Star Children's Hospices.
She and her colleagues are planning a 20km Sunrise Walk route: "We really enjoy taking part in the Sunrise Walk. It's always a great atmosphere and the memory tree for walkers to hang their lanterns at the beginning is always so moving.
"It's a hard walk mentally, but we know by taking part we are doing something to help. We know how important the service is to the families, it's a lifeline for so many of our parents. The charity gives them an opportunity to form friendships with other parents in a similar situation and to take part in activities like swimming, which is something that just wouldn't be possible for many of them to do usually."
Fellow teacher and team member, Lynne Howe said, "This will be my third Sunrise Walk I will be taking part in. Shooting Star Children's Hospices has, and still is helping so many families of young people that are needing support and this is just my way of supporting them and saying thank you for everything they do."
The team plans to start and finish back at the school, setting off at 4am to ensure they catch the sun as it rises. Emma continues, "We know it'll be difficult to get up so early but understand that for many of the families the charity supports, they are often up throughout the night due to the complex conditions their children have - so we can certainly manage one early morning to raise money for them."
The team have also cleverly thought ahead to their breakfast celebration, with the school's Headteacher, Nathan Aspinall, planning to valiantly run the route so they'll be back in time to have the bacon butties ready for their return.
They are also planning to hold a small memorial gathering at the school in memory and celebration.
Teacher and team member, Tracey Haigh, concluded, "I've taken part in the Sunrise Walk for a number of years because Shooting Star Children's Hospices have supported so many of our students over many years. In the last four years they have given care to some of my students reaching end of life and have supported the families as well. I wish there wasn't the need for a place like Shooting Star Children's Hospices but when the worst is going to happen, it's the best place to go."
Also as restrictions are relaxing, Shooting Star Children's Hospices has announced registration will soon open for their Guildford Sunrise Walk on Sunday 17 October which take walkers through parts of the North Downs Way.
If you'd like to take part in your own Virtual Sunrise Walk and support Shooting Star Children's Hospices you can find out more and sign up at www.shootingstar.org.uk/virtual-sunrise-walk/