Walk for Wards registrations growing ahead of 20th anniversary
More than 1,200 people have signed up for the Stars Appeal's biggest annual event
With just over a month to go until it's biggest event of the year, the Stars Appeal says Walk for Wards registrations are starting to come in thick and fast.
Salisbury District Hospital's charity has raised more than £1.5million with the event, which is marking its 20th running at Wilton House in July.
Stars Appeal revealed recently it had reached 1,000 sign ups, but Events and Fundraising Manager, Helena Sinclair, told us they're moving well past that now.
"We're at 1,200," she said, adding: "We hope to get to 2,000 walkers, and it's really overwhelming to see the support we get year on year from the local community."
Helena added: "We feel this is probably one of the biggest community fundraising events. Maybe not just in Salisbury, probably further afield as well.
"To see 2000 people coming year on year and some people have actually done the walk for the last 10 years, there is a couple of people that have done it for the last 20 years, so it just shows that they want to keep coming to say thank you.
People participate in the walk, which this year includes a 15km distance route, to say thank you for the care they or a family member received at the hospital, with walkers able to choose a specific ward for their money raised to go to.
And it all contributes to the Stars Appeal's annual target, which helps them provide services in and around the hospital.
"We have to raise each year at least £1million," Helena said, telling us that it helps fund things like a Play Assistant on the children's ward, free Wi-Fi and more and £100k worth of cancer care services.
It also helps fund state-of-the-art equipment, including MRI and CT scanners.
Walk for Wards is being held on Sunday 6th July, with the deadline for registrations 29th June.
We can register to join here.