More than 3,400 people sported pink and flashing bunny ears at the 10km walk in Chesterfield on Saturday 22 June.
The total figure raised from the fundraiser, sponsored by NOCN, was a phenomenal £341,854– the most the walkers have ever raised after smashing the record of £317, 671 set last year.
The event will return for its 10th anniversary next year on 28 June 2025 – and supporters can register at a reduced rate of £8 until Sunday 11 August.
One of the walkers who raised the most money at the event this year was the family of Kate Holmes, from Bramley Vale, who spent her final days at home thanks to the support of Ashgate’s community nurses.
She died in June 2023, aged 77, after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer nine months before.
Her granddaughter Leanne Nightingale was one of 21 family members who helped raise £1,600 for the hospice’s care at the Sparkle Night Walk.
Leanne and her family walked in memory of their nana Kate
Leanne said her nana Kate brought the family together
“The night was just beautiful,” said dental nurse Leanne. “It was almost a memorial on the night; we had our t-shirts with our team’s name ‘Kate’s Legacy’ on the back.
“Nana was head of the family, and we saw her every day. To do something like the Sparkle Night Walk knowing it was for her, she would have loved it and been very proud.
“The grief is still there so we wanted to have something to channel it into and turn it into something positive.
“The comradery, support and atmosphere were just incredible, we all absolutely loved it and were so proud to raise money for such a worthy cause.
“There were times certainly towards the end of Nana’s life where everything got a bit overwhelming and you feel lost, having the hospice there for support was like a guiding light.”
Walkers started at Chesterfield Football Club before heading down the A61 bypass, with views of the Crooked Spire and through the streets of Chesterfield before returning to the ground.
The event saw a total of 3,404 supporters register for the event – smashing the previous record of 3,127 that entered in 2023.
The hospice’s sponsors and corporate supporters meant the hospice saved £88,795 in running costs on the night – meaning more funds will go towards funding vital care.
Staff and volunteers came together for a special announcement unveiling the amount raised on 7 August
More than 3,000 people walked through Chesterfield for the Sparkle Night Walk
Director of Income Generation at Ashgate Hospice, Jack Wood said he was “incredibly grateful” for the support of the event’s participants.
“We are so overwhelmed that our amazing participants have once again raised such an incredible amount towards our care,” said Jack.
“To beat the record amount raised at our Sparkle Night Walk last year, only to do it again in 2024 is a testament to the dedication of our supporters.
“This could fund the care of one of the beds on our Inpatient Unit at the hospice for more than a year, giving patients 24/7 expert care when they need it most.
“We are incredibly grateful for their efforts and their support will go a long way towards funding end of life care and support for patients and their families across North Derbyshire.”
Plans are already underway for Sparkle Night Walk 2025, sponsored by Magpie Beauty, with super early bird tickets being sold now for a reduced rate of £8 until Sunday 11 August.
More than 1,000 people have already signed up to next year’s event, which the hospice hopes will be “even bigger”.
Jack Wood added: “This year’s Sparkle Night Walk might be behind us but we’re already working hard to make next year event better – you can register at our early bird pride for just £8!
“Will you come along to celebrate our 10th anniversary of the Sparkle Night Walk and help us break records for the third year in a row?”
The walk will take place on Saturday 28 June 2025 – sign up now on the hospice’s website.
Ashgate Hospice is backing Hospice UK’s campaign for fairer funding for hospices, and is urging the public to write to their MP and show them how much hospice care matters.
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