Thousands of people will be walking for their local hospice next month as St Christopher’s Fun Walk returns to Bromley for 2025.
The event – the charity’s biggest of the year – will take place on Sunday May 11 in Bromley with fairground stalls, pop-up shops, food and drink, games, and live music.
Some walkers proudly walk with photos of loved ones who have died on their t-shirts, while a memory tree part-way round the course offers the chance for people to dedicate a heart in memory of someone who has died. Last year more than 451 hearts were put on the memory tree in a moving display of remembrance.
Lauren Howie, 25, will be walking in memory of her mother, Lisa, who died aged 50 in January 2023, walking with her dad and some of Lisa’s best friends.
The walk starts and finishes at Keston Common, with walkers given a choice of taking on 3, 5, 8 or 11-mile sponsored walks.
People can sign up in teams and will be given a dedicated online page where they can compete with others to see who can raise the most money. A team of dedicated hospice nurses and staff will be walking on behalf of St Christopher’s, raising vital funds for the charity.
With plenty of entertainment stops along the way, there’s a chance to rest and take in the springtime scenery through wooden areas and open fields. Early birds can set-off from Keston Common from 9am, with the last recommended set-off time advised for 11am if you are undertaking the 11-mile walk. It costs £15 to register as an adult or £5 for 3-17-year-olds. Sign-ups on the day are welcome but will cost £20.
Dogs are also very welcome to come along for the walk; in fact, why not ask friends and family to sponsor your dog to scamper across the fields?
Lauren, who took on the walk last year on her own, is excited to return this year with her dad and some of her mum’s bests friends. The team are planning to personalise their t-shirts in memory of Lisa.
She says: “Fun Walk is so brilliant at bringing people together and I love the sense of community and atmosphere. There’s so much going on, so many different stalls and it’s a chance to share stories about people who have died and how St Christopher’s has supported you.
“If my mum knew we were all doing it she would bawl her eyes out, she used to cry at everything. She’d be proud of me, because I don’t really exercise but I’d happily walk miles for St Christopher’s.”
“She was the best person,” Lauren says. “I know that sounds so cheesy, but she was always so happy and you know, she’s so loving, caring, she got on my nerves a bit as every parent does, but she brought everyone’s in the house together, so it was a massive shock when I lost her.”
Lauren was so inspired by the work of St Christopher’s in supporting her mum that just months after Lisa’s death she applied for a job as an Assistant Manager in one of their shops.
She says: “It was just a calling. It was really lovely. I was about to lose my previous job and this job came up and it just felt right and it’s honestly in a way kind of honouring my mum getting this job.
“They were so lovely and kind to her. Asking questions about she wanted to do things rather than saying this is how we should do it. They were always making sure that she was comfortable.”
Head of Fundraising at St Christopher’s, Christine Davies, says: “We’re so excited to return to Keston Common once again for our annual Fun Walk and welcome back thousands of our supporters from across South London.
“Join walkers like Lauren and enjoy a fun-filled day of entertainment, music, and community while supporting our work. We encourage everyone, from young families to those in their older age, to come down.”
“Events like these are becoming more and more important in helping us raise vital funds to continue providing end of life care for people across South London, as well as their families, loved ones and carers. Please do sign up today.”
:: To sign up for St Christopher’s Fun Walk on Sunday 11 May, visit bit.ly/StC_FunWalk2025
Some Fun Walk fun facts:
The event first took place in 1990 and raised £29,000!
There are currently 1025 ticket holders for this year’s Fun Walk – let’s hit 2,000!
Last year the most raised by a team was £3,665!
Last year the most raised by an individual was £3,460!
In 2024 we raised more than £215,000 – let’s smash that target in 2025!
