Get your slippers on for young people with cancer
CLIC Sargent
With families in Northern Ireland travelling almost 500 miles a week to get the cancer treatment their child needs, CLIC Sargent has launched a fundraising event which could help ease that burdern.
The unique event means you can raise money for children with cancer - without even taking your slippers off!
CLIC Sargent is holding their first ever Slipper Walk in the beautiful surroundings of Shane's Castle, Antrim, on Sunday 19 August. Starting at 1pm, families are encouraged to enjoy an afternoon stroll, walking at least 1km in their slippers, and join in the fun and celebrations which will be available after the walk. Shane's Castle is the perfect setting for a picnic, so bring one along to enjoy with the entertainment provided for all ages. This promises to be a fun-packed day out for the entire family that should not be missed.
CLIC Sargent has launched an Appeal to build two Homes from Home close to the main Belfast Hospitals. The Homes will be so close, that families can walk to and from the hospital in minutes - they like to call it the Slipper Walk. This event is a great way to show support for those families.
Helping to launch the first ever Slipper Walk, with first hand experience of the difficulties families face, were Angela Duffy and her daughter Grace (8 years old) from Antrim;
"Our family received vital support from CLIC Sargent when my son Aidan was diagnosed with a brain tumor in Februray 2010. As well as dealing with all of the travel, one of the most important things when you get a diagnosis is how the siblings cope with the news. We were given lots of help to make sure that Grace understood what was happening. It's such an important charity and this event is a great way to help even more families across Northern Ireland as they raise funds for their Homes from Home Appeal."
Claire McAuley, Event Fundraising Manager at CLIC Sargent said;
"Families in Northern Ireland travel on average 95 miles, up to five times a week to get the cancer treatment their child needs. This puts a massive financial and emotional strain on families at an already very difficult time. Building two Homes from Home can help relieve that strain and give them a sense of normal family life."
"We are encouraging our supporters to walk a kilometre or ten in the shoes, or slippers, of those families. The beautiful location of Shane's Castle will be the perfect setting for a family day out, with entertainment for the kids provided and a perfect location for a picnic. So pull on your silliest of comfiest pair of slippers and join us on Sunday 19 August."