More than 350 people took part in an emotional night-time charity walk at The Lost Gardens of Heligan last week.

Children’s Hospice South West’s (CHSW) Moonlight Memory Walk took place at the gardens in Pentewan near St Austell. 

It is expected to raise £35,000 for the charity, which runs the Little Harbour children’s hospice in nearby Porthpean. 

The walk featured poignant places to stop and remember loved ones, where participants could mark their memory by lighting a candle, making a bracelet, signing a star decoration and leaving a fingerprint on a canvas.

After the walk, participants, many proudly wearing hand written dedications to loved ones, joined a special memory ceremony, where their dedications to their loved ones played on screen. 

They listened to poems read by Little Harbour staff, a speech from Ben and Hannah Chapman, parents who use the hospice, and a live performance from St Mewan School Community Choir. This was followed by a one minute applause and silence.

Kiley Pearce, events fundraiser for CHSW, said: “We were delighted this special event could still go ahead on Saturday evening, despite having to change the format due to the weather. The event means so much to bereaved families who have used our hospices, as well as our supporters who are remembering their loved ones. 

“We thank everyone who came along to the event and embraced the changes in order to mark their loved ones memory.”

Little Harbour provides free support to children with life limiting illnesses and their families, including respite, palliative care, end of life care and bereavement support. The hospice also offers resilience stays, as well as support in families’ own homes.

Moonlight Memory Walk was sponsored by Surf Bay Leisure, meaning that all the sponsorship raised on the evening can go towards the vital care and support offered to local families.