Shining Stars Walk 2025 – A night of remembrance and joy
On Saturday 20 September, we held our Shining Stars Walk. This special evening brought together over 450 participants who took on either a four- or eight-mile sponsored walk around the city. The event was a moving tribute to loved ones no longer with us and raised vital funds in support of Rowans Hospice.
It was heart-warming for our fundraising team to see so many people come together, covered in glitter, smiling, laughing, and taking time to reflect and honour those they have lost. The event began with an energetic live Zumba warm-up to get everyone in the spirit before setting off.
The route started at HMS Temeraire and wound through the streets of Portsmouth and Southsea, taking in iconic landmarks including HMS Warrior, where walkers could pause to light a candle in remembrance. Along the way, participants enjoyed live performances from the Barber Shop Quartet Portsmouth A Cappella and were treated to the beautiful sight of the Spinnaker Tower illuminated in Rowans Hospice green.
While the weather didn’t quite cooperate, the blustery skies did nothing to dampen our spirits. A particularly moving moment was for the team onboard HMS Warrior, where the deck was covered in hundreds of candles. Each one was a tribute, a memory, and a symbol of love. It was a sight that captured the heart of the event and the joy it brought to so many.
We would like to express our deepest thanks to our sponsors: Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, The Portsmouth Grammar School, Signal, and A.J. Wheeler. As well as our sponsors, we would like to thank:
- Boothiful for providing the photobooth
- Fairytale Dreams Entertainment for the children’s entertainment
- Swan Samba
- Barber Shop Quartet – Portsmouth A Capella
- Darren Shallows
- jFit & Wellbeing for the Zumba warm up
- Wellington Vale Care Home, Tesco Whiteley, and Asda Waterlooville, for the snacks for participants
A massive thank you also goes to our incredible volunteers, who so generously gave their time and energy to ensure the evening ran smoothly.
And to our dedicated community of fundraisers. Your commitment, passion, and enthusiasm continue to make a real difference in the lives of others. In total, you have raised to date, an incredible £44,658.49, which will go directly toward providing care for our patients at Rowans Hospice.
So, thank you, from everyone at Rowans Hospice. Without your support, our work would simply not be able to continue to support our community.