DANSON Park in Bexleyheath came to life with pink flashing lights and echoes of applause as hundreds of ladies took part in the chYps Twilight Walk.

Dressed in pink tutus, pyjamas, bunny ears and feather boas, women and girls of all ages turned out in force on Friday 21st September to support chYps, our children?s hospice, and helps raise vital funds.

For the second year running, walkers were joined by chYps champion and TV star Nadia Sawalha. Drizzle and downpours failed to dampen spirits as smiley walkers posed for photos with the celebrity supporter. 

Speaking at the event Nadia said: ?I?m so thrilled to be back at the Twilight Walk and to see so many women and girls supporting the event. I have met so many inspirational people and heard so many moving stories. The work that chYps does is so important ? they care for seriously ill children in their own homes, where they are comfortable and can have lots of cuddles with their family. It is vital the people continue to support this incredible charity and bring in funding.?

The annual chYps Twilight Walk is now in its four year and the 2012 event proved to be a great success, with more walkers turning out than last year.

Supporters were from all walks of life including chYps patients and their families, bereaved relatives, chYps nurses and staff, and others who wanted to take part after hearing about chYps? incredible work.

Crayford mum Vicki Read, whose two sons Sidney and Freddie were cared for by chYps, led the 350-strong troupe of women in a fun warm-up.

Among the crowds was mum-of-one Carly Kershaw, 30, from Welling, who heard about chYps through a relative.

She said: ?This was my first year at Twilight Walk and I absolutely loved it. I can?t wait to come back next year and do it again. As a mum myself I cannot imagine anything worse than having a seriously ill child. People living in Bexley and West Kent are very lucky to have a service like chYps available to them if the worse was ever to happen.?

The three hour event kick-started at 7pm and many women were there till the very end having completed several of the 1.2 mile laps.

A memory board was also put up for people to leave messages in memory of loved ones and to write about what chYps means to them.

Sponsorship is flooding in and organisers hope to beat the £13,000 raised at last year?s walk.

This money will help chYps to continue providing care for seriously ill children across West Kent and Bexley, and support for the whole family through respite, counselling, play and music therapies, youth groups, spiritual care and bereavement support.

Events organiser Emma Middleton said: ?This year?s Twilight Walk was absolutely fantastic. I would like to say a big thank you to Nadia Sawalha and all the walkers, all our volunteers and all the local businesses who supported us and helped to make the Twilight Walk a success.?