Preston charity urges city to ‘Walk the Lights’ in support bubbles this year

The Blackpool Illuminations Pic: Kevin Haworth

Day trippers planning on visiting Blackpool Illuminations later this month are being asked to park the car and walk the five miles through the lights to help local cancer charity Rosemere Cancer Foundation.

For the last eight years, the charity has invited its supporters to join it on a family group walk along the Prom from Bispham tram stop to Starr Gate.

Entry fees and sponsorship money from the annual event has funded projects benefiting local cancer patients valued at more than £30,000.

This year, the coronavirus pandemic means the walk cannot go ahead as usual but Rosemere Cancer Foundation’s chief officer Dan Hill is hopeful that people planning on visiting the illuminations will still walk the lights in their own bubbles.

Rosemere Cancer Centre is asking for people to walk the Blackpool illuminations in their bubbles — The registration desk at previous years Walk the Lights, pre-pandemic

Dan said: “It’s been well documented that charities such as Rosemere Cancer Foundation, which relies almost entirely on community events for income, are really struggling in the current climate.

“Usually, we have three to four hundred people of all ages Walk the Lights with us. It’s great fun and everyone gets together afterwards to receive a certificate and enjoy the free refreshments that we provide.

“Obviously, restrictions mean we cannot do that this year but to quote a phrase that’s become quite familiar recently, cancer doesn’t stop for the coronavirus so neither does our work. We have projects we are desperate to fund so if you are planning on seeing the lights, please walk them safely to help us.”

The charity is asking anyone planning on going to Blackpool between Friday 16 October and Sunday 1 November to register to walk the lights here.

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Entry is £5 and a certificate of involvement will be posted to participants at the end of the challenge.

Those taking part are also encouraged to upload photographs of themselves en route on to the charity’s Instagram and Facebook page.

Will you be taking part in the Walk the Lights for Rosemere? Let us know in the comments below