Record-breaking turnout for Cosmic Walk 2025
The annual Cosmic Walk returned this year with more people joining than ever before, making the 2025 walk the biggest in its 30-year history.
Far more than a charity event, the 5km walk is a deeply emotional journey for hundreds of supporters connected by a shared experience – their gratitude to NHS staff and Cosmic, the charity that helps the children’s intensive care units at St Mary’s and Queen Charlotte’s hospitals, by supporting critically ill babies and children, their families and the nurses and doctors who work tirelessly to treat them.
The walk kicked off on Sunday (8h June) at 2pm in Paddington Recreation Ground and wound its way to the Hilton London Metropole in Edgware Road. There, walkers were greeted by Cosmic staff, each receiving a celebratory medal before an afternoon of festivities, including a bouncy castle, food, children’s entertainers, and a lively raffle.
Addressing the crowd, Professor Parvis Habibi, Co-Founder of Cosmic, paid tribute to those taking part: “Thanks to people like you we are where we are today, with state-of-the-art intensive care units. Your fundraising has always supported critically ill children and babies, and we are very grateful to have you here today.”
Walkers of all ages came together, including Cosmic Patron, renowned actress and author, Fay Ripley, who has been a long-term supporter since her niece was treated on the paediatric intensive care unit. She said: “Cosmic is a small charity doing really big things. When families need it the most, Cosmic has been there, including for my family. I am so in awe of everything Cosmic does so it’s an absolute pleasure to be here today.”
Though everybody’s personal stories varied, all were united by one thing: a deep and lasting gratitude for the care they received during the most frightening moments of their lives.
“For many of us, Cosmic is a club we never wanted to join,” said one parent. “But now we’re a family—bonded not just by trauma, but also by hope, strength and gratitude.”
Another grandmother, moved to tears, said: “It’s how I say thank you. I’ll never forget the kindness we were shown. I’ll keep coming back, every year, to show that gratitude.”
For one mother, it was a kind of promise fulfilled. She said: “When you’re in the parent room, hoping and praying, you tell yourself: ‘If we get through this, I’ll find a way to give back.’ I can’t run a marathon or climb a mountain, but I can walk.”
Thanks to the support and generosity on the day, more than £7,000 was raised, which will go directly into funding the vital work Cosmic carries out, including providing essential services like on-site family accommodation, counselling support, specialist equipment for the intensive care units, and vital research into life-threatening childhood diseases.