Thank you to everyone who attended the CRY Heart of Durham Walk 2023
On the 1st of October 2023, 202 of our supporters joined us to take part in the CRY Heart of Durham Walk.
We are extremely appreciative of every person that made the effort to join us on such an important day, a day where families can come together to reflect and remember those who were tragically taken due to Young Sudden Cardiac Death, and to support those who have been diagnosed with an inherited cardiac condition.
We were lucky enough to have beautiful weather for our supporters to walk the cobbled streets and riversides of the historical City of Durham.
Some of our CRY staff attended and helped set up the event including Lily Burke, Hiddy Denizer, Francesca Levett, Cara MacMillan and Ben Robinson. As always, it was a real team effort. Ben and Hiddy kindly drove the CRY team from Surrey to Durham along with all the equipment and literature needed to make the event. Thanks to the staff at Durham Amateur Rowing Club, we were able to set up the morning of the walk so that everything was ready for our first walkers bright and early.
Walkers started arriving eagerly from 9:30am at the Durham Amateur Rowing Club to get checked in, aided by CRY volunteer, Marie. We are so glad to say that we had 39 supporters register on the day!
Once everyone had arrived, a beautiful speech was given by Jeff Morland, who worked with CRY to organise the first CRY Durham Walk 14 years ago, in memory of his son, Levon. Jeff spoke about the importance and significance of the day, the suffering that follows losing a loved one so young, and the importance of raising awareness to prevent such tragedies from continuing. Jeff then introduced Steve Percival who also spoke about the importance of the day and how all the walkers should take in the wonderful views of Durham when reflecting and walking. Steve then read the names of every young person our supports were walking in memory of, he gave them a chance to clap and cheer to celebrate their loved one’s life or have a moment of silence for them.
Participants set off from the rowing club at 11am and walked alongside the river, toward Durham City Centre, aided by CRY volunteers Jeff, Jim, Joe and David throughout. The streets were soon filled with CRY T-shirts for the public to see. All walkers were met with the astonishing site of Durham Cathedral, which supporters were welcome to visit and light a candle if they so wished. After the rest of the walkers joined back together, they continued travelling through the City of Durham and met back at the finish line at the Rowing Club.
Once the walk was completed by all our fantastic supporters, they were welcomed back by CRY volunteers, Pat and Dorothy, who handed out the walkers well-earned medals! Everyone then had a chance to relax, grab a drink and have a chat with their or other families. Supporters had already started writing message cards for the message wall before they set of, so by the end of the day, the wall was filled with heartwarming and thoughtful messages. Our supporters also then had a chance to purchase any merchandise from us and browse our much anticipated Christmas cards!
Doug Moody, as always, captured beautiful photos of the event throughout the day. He followed the walkers through Durham to capture the families (and dogs of course!) on a very special day.
Kindly, walkers then filled out our feedback forms for the day, before setting off home for a well-deserved rest. The event was then finished at around 4:30, until next year. We are so grateful to everyone that joined us that day.
This year’s participants were walking and volunteering in memory of:
Jack Balfour, Seb Body, Ian Bowen, Steffani Broughton, Andrew Callender, Joseph Clark, Charlie Craig, Tom Day, Adam Dearnley, Sean Farrell, Ashley Goodwin, Dean Henderson, Damien Jewell, Ian Johnson, Eleanor Keeler, Jake Lister, Alan Lumley, Pat McLaughlan, Stephanie McLean, Levon Morland, Thomas Padmore, Kevin Paterson, Owen Raine, Charlotte Richardson, Stephen Rogers, Mike Scott, Robert Daniel Smith, Hannah Stanton, Jono Stead, David Wallace, David White and Ruth Whyte.
Join us on Sunday, 6th October 2024. All information about the day, as well as how to register are at the link below
