Heroes and Villains unite for super Sunday of support for Hospice care

Tuesday, 15 September 2026 20:38

By Mark Andrews

Over 100 people put their best foot forward for Willow Wood Hospice as this year’s Heroes and Villains-themed walk brought plenty of colour, fun and fundraising.

Families, friends and supporters came together last Sunday (13th September) for the Willow Wood Hospice Walk – a fun-filled 5km route around Stamford Park, the boating lake and Chadwick Dam on the Stalybridge-Ashton border.

And with a Heroes and Villains theme, there were some fantastic costumes on show, with walkers dressing up as everyone from Alice in Wonderland and Superman to Spider-Man and Cruella de Vil.

People of all ages took part, creating memories with their loved ones while raising vital funds to help the Hospice provide compassionate care to patients from Tameside and Glossop.

The event – which was sponsored by Tameside-based Inology IT – has raised more than £4,000 so far, with donations still coming in.

Anyone who would like to help boost the total can donate through the event’s JustGiving page here: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/willowwoodwalk26

The fun started before the walk even got under way, with The Rock Choir from Bolton, Middleton, Rochdale and Saddleworth performing a medley of popular songs which got everyone in the mood.

The Hospice also continued its collaboration with local colleges, with students from Tameside College helping to add some extra colour to the event by providing face painting.

Along the 5km route, there was a quiz, stickers to collect and a finishing-line treat. Every participant also received a well-earned medal and certificate at the end.

Woody the Bear, Willow Wood’s mascot, was on hand to cheer everyone on, while the Civic Mayor of Tameside, Councillor Helen Bowden, set the walkers on their way by sounding the horn.

Tracey Schofield, Events Lead at Willow Wood Hospice, said: "It was a fantastic day and the weather was kind to us once again! It was lovely to see everyone enjoying themselves, embracing the Heroes and Villains theme, and walking together to support patients living with life-limiting illnesses and those closest to them.

"A massive thank you to everyone who took part, as well as The Rock Choir, our wonderful Hospice staff and volunteers, the brilliant team at Highfield Pavilion Café, and Tameside Council for allowing us to use the park. We couldn’t have done it without everyone who helped make the day a success."

Brett Casterton, from headline sponsor Inology IT, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to have been the headline sponsor for Willow Wood Hospice’s 5k sponsored Walk. Seeing the incredible community turnout, the vibrant atmosphere, and the brilliant performance by The Rock Choir made it a truly memorable day.

“Willow Wood provides vital, specialist care to so many families across Tameside and Glossop, and the team at Inology IT is incredibly proud to support their ongoing mission. It was a privilege to be part of such a successful event, and we look forward to continuing our partnership to help the Hospice make a difference in our community.”

The Hospice will announce the final fundraising total on its social media channels in due course, so keep an eye out for the final figure.

It costs £4.1 million each year for Willow Wood Hospice to continue providing its essential services and compassionate care to patients across Tameside and Glossop living with a life-limiting illness.

With only around 22 per cent of its annual income coming from the Government, Willow Wood relies heavily on the generosity of local people and organisations. There are lots of ways to support the Hospice, including making a donation, organising or taking part in a fundraising event, donating or buying goods from its charity shops, leaving a gift in a Will, joining the weekly lottery or volunteering.

If you would like to organise your own fundraiser for Willow Wood Hospice, the Fundraising team is on hand to help. Email fundraising@willowwood.org.uk or call 0161 330 7788 to find out more.