The Cosmic Walk: a celebration of community, connection and hope
Every year, the Cosmic Walk brings together families, supporters, healthcare staff and friends of Cosmic to celebrate the community at the heart of everything we do. This year’s event saw more than 160 people come together for a day filled with connection, laughter and fundraising in support of babies, children and families receiving intensive care.
Families old and new gathered at Norfolk Square Gardens to collect their balloons, enjoy games and activities and catch up with members of the Cosmic team before setting off on a 5k walk through Paddington and Hyde Park.
One of the most special parts of the day was seeing families reconnect with the staff who cared for them during their time on the neonatal and paediatric intensive care units. For healthcare staff, it is a rare opportunity to reconnect with families away from the hospital setting and see the lasting impact of the care they provide.
The walk ended with a wonderful celebration at the Hilton Metropole Hotel, where families enjoyed food, drinks and entertainment including the Toni Macaroni magic show, balloon modelling from Kazam, face painting and jewellery making by Magical Designs, a bouncy castle from Ready Steady Bounce, candy floss from Cotton Candy and much more.
Many walkers also took on fundraising in the lead-up to the event. Together, participants have already raised more than £12,650 to support Cosmic’s work. Every pound raised helps fund projects that make a real difference to families during their hospital journey, from family support and accommodation to staff wellbeing initiatives, specialist equipment and improvements to the hospital environment.
For many families, the event is an opportunity to celebrate how far they have come and reflect on the support they received during some of the most challenging times in their lives.
“We will be eternally grateful for the incredible care Hannah received during her time at St Mary’s, particularly during the days when she was on life support. The expertise, dedication and compassion shown by every member of the team was truly extraordinary.
As you can imagine, having your child in intensive care is devastating. Throughout that journey, Cosmic and the wonderful team at St Mary’s provided invaluable support, comfort and hope when we needed it most.
We will never forget what they did for Hannah and for our family.”
Amna, Hannah’s mum
The Cosmic Walk is more than a fundraising event. It is a celebration of the resilience of our families, the dedication of NHS staff and the generosity of the supporters who help make Cosmic’s work possible.
A huge thank you to everyone who walked, fundraised, volunteered and supported the event. Together, you helped create a day filled with joy, laughter and connection.
If you would like to find out more about the annual Cosmic Walk or discover other ways to support Cosmic throughout the year, please get in touch at info@cosmiccharity.org.uk.
To help support future events and our work with babies, children, families and healthcare staff, please consider making a donation today.
