Page 262 - She's One Crazy Lady!

Breast Unit Staff came out in force to show their support, as did a lot of people we didn’t know. We’d purchased, off-the-shelf medals which went down well and overall, it was a great success and enjoyed by everyone – with £7,500 being raised through sponsorship! A lot of money! What was lovely, was hearing the walkers, cheerfully saying, “See you next year!” as they made their way home. Would we be doing another one? Yes indeed!
For the next sixteen years we introduced changes to each Walk anticipating that numbers would be higher and we were not
disappointed. On our second Walk, with lessons learned, over 500 people took part with £24,000 being raised – more than tripling the first Walk total! The hats, many of which were homemade, were simply ‘INCREDIBLE!’, certainly ‘Crazy’ and the atmosphere, electric! We brought in extra helpers, Marshalls, a new medal, Annual Awards with shields and trophies donated by local companies; we got St. John’s
Ambulance on board, invited local Mayors and MP’s to come along – and we got the distance right! Every year was a learning curve with feedback from walkers helping us to bring in new and enhanced modifications. It was important too that each year was slightly different to entice different entries.
Wendy Collins wrote:
“A year has flown by since your last Crazy Hats Walk. Last year my Mum, my sister and a friend did the walk I had also planned to walk but due to having breast cancer the previous year I was having one of my not so good days. In August of last year, I am so sad to say that we lost our dear Mum to ovarian cancer. My sister recalls how Mum’s face was glowing when she received her medal. I have her photo close by me with her fancy hat on – she looks so happy. I plan to do the Walk this year come what may, not for myself, but for my Mum. I will have her fancy hat on and I shall think of her all the way round. On my hat I will pin the picture of her – she will be looking down on us. I will always walk the Walk for Mum as she had done for me. Mum will be on my shoulder.”
Word was spreading about the popularity of our Walks. Year on year, numbers grew as did the amount
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