Shooting Star Children's Hospices ready to launch their Space Race

Shooting Star Children’s hospices helps around 700 families and their children every year by caring for babies, children and young people with life-limiting conditions.

This year the charity that covers the whole of Surrey as well as areas of London are preparing to send a rocket into the solar system by walking, running, cycling, swimming or skating as many miles as possible to help reach Mars.

Shooting Star hospices provide free care for children and their families throughout treatment and during grieving, with hospices offering the opportunity to stay, relax and play throughout their treatment in their variety of rooms.

The fundraiser aims to continue the free services provided by Shooting Stars hospices, including Christopher’s hospice in Guildford.

Everyone across the county is encouraged to sign up for the mission, including schools, family and friends to help the rocket reach its total 38,600 miles throughout March.

CEO Paul Farthing, who has already got his walking boots ready, said:

“The original idea came from one of the children Nicholas, who comes to stay with us. He and the team built a rocket that is taller than he is, it’s a huge rocket.

“We launched it round the garden to the moon and this gave us the idea of having a space race that we can get supporters into.

“So, the Space Race is about asking supporters to go and do anything they want to that involves traveling, walking, running, jogging, cycling, skateboarding, scootering to clock up the miles.”

Details of the services Christopher’s offers can be found on their website, as well as facts about this year’s Space Race.

To sign up to be a part of the mission to Mars, or to find out more information go to www.shootingstar.org.uk/event/shooting-star-space-race