Enjoy Exploring Paddington as you March for Medicine
Cosmic Walk
On Sunday 26 June, COSMIC charity are holding their annual fundraising walk here in Paddington and everyone’s invited to join them.
COSMIC supports the children and neo-natal intensive care units at St Mary’s and Queen Charlotte’s hospital. Funds raised from this walk will contribute specifically to the charities Family Support Fund; which provides accommodation, meals, counselling and other essential services to meet the needs of the parents, children and babies on the wards.
This is the 19th year the walk has taken place and this year it will depart from the bandstand at Paddington Recreation Ground at 2pm. The 5K route ends at Merchant Square where participants can look forward to a celebratory tea party.
With entertainment including carnival games, face painting, balloon
art, a raffle, music and an invitation to come in fancy dress; this
promises to be a fun-filled family friendly afternoon, fundraising for a
fantastic cause.
If you would like to sign up, please purchase tickets from the Cosmic Walk Eventbrite site, where further details about the route can be found.
Walk for Wards
The Imperial Health Charity funds redevelopment, research projects and state-of-the-art medical equipment for the five Imperial College hospitals across London, including St Mary’s here in Paddington. The charity also awards grants, commissions art projects and recruits and supports hospital volunteers.
Every summer Imperial Health Charity hold a sponsored walk to raise awareness of the hospitals’ work amongst the community. This year the event is taking place virtually and you are invited to plan your own 11.4km route (to represent the distance between the five London hospitals) and Walk for Wards during July.
The scale of the challenge is really up to you. Regardless of whether you take on the distance everyday or complete the walk in stages throughout the month; all sponsorship raised will help improve patient care and provide additional support to staff working across the Trust.
There is no minimum fundraising target but individuals who raise more than £50 will receive a thank you medal in recognition of their contribution. Anyone who breaks through the £150 barrier will receive a goody bag packed full of treats.
This is the perfect excuse to enjoy the towpaths, artwork, fountains, bears and bridges that Paddington has to offer, before treating yourself to well-deserved refreshment from one of the areas many floating restaurants, canal side cafes or food trucks.
There is lots to explore but we’d encourage you to look out for:
- The majesty of the three-metre wide cantilevered fan bridge, if you can time your walk for when it is raised on Wednesday’s and Friday’s at 12 noon
- Colour Transfer – a striking permanent artwork under the Westway Bridge designed by artist Liz West. The work comprises of multiple angled coloured mirrors, vertically spanning the height of the brickwork to create an optically vibrant and kaleidoscopic installation
- The serene pool at Little Venice, where you are forced to slow your pace and watch the nesting birds and wildlife that have made Paddington home
- The spire of St Mary Magdalene Church. Heritage Lottery funding has enabled the building to be lovingly restored and whilst still a place of worship, Grand Junction is also a thriving heritage, cultural and arts centre.
To sign up and for more information, please go to the Imperial Health Charity website.
27.05.22
