Hundreds making dreams come true
They came in fancy dress, fluorescent legwarmers and as fairytale characters – but they all had one goal in mind.
Around 1,000 people pounded the streets to raise up to £50,000 for charity.
Steve Bull, Jody Craddock and Don Goodman were on hand to show their support to the hundreds taking part in Walk for Dreams event yesterday.
The event, organised by Wolverhampton-based Promise Dreams, saw crowds including Snow White and one of her dwarves, a pair of nuns, young, old, and even dogs trek 10-miles from Himley Hall to Wolverhampton Racecourse, taking in the city centre and Molineux.
Promise Dreams was set up 12 years ago to help terminally-ill children and their families by granting a wish, with the £2.5 million raised so far going to help more than 2,400 families.
Co-founder and Wolverhampton businessman Suresh Bawa, aged 48, said: "More than 1,000 people have registered and fundraised for the event.
"The day is a family day, and is about having fun, and we had lovely weather for it.
"People know their donations and fundraising all goes to a great cause, because all of the sponsors have picked up the bill for the day. I've got to say a massive thank you to them.
"So every pound that the walkers raise will go direct to help the children.
"If we do £50,000 I will be jumping through hoops – it would make it the biggest single fundraising event that Promise Dreams has ever organised itself."
Footballing legend Steve Bull, a patron of the charity, was on hand to see walkers off at the start and encourage them over the finish line.
He said: "The day is brilliant, it took some organising but it's for a brilliant cause, so we are going to put smiles on a few faces.
"I've been a patron from day one, I'm a very lucky person who it able to do what I want but there are families that need a bit more help, so if I can help in some way I will."
Jody Craddock was walking the course with his eight-year-old son Luke. He said: "I've donated to the charity before but this is the first event of theirs that I've been involved with.
"There's so many charities out there, but if I can help the odd one out here and there the best I can, then I am always willing.
"It's a fantastic turnout, the weather's a massive factor in something like this, but people just want to help out and do their little bit."
A team of 11 from retailer Leekes of Bilston, including a dog called Dotty, were among those taking part in the huge event.
Steve Edwards, 49, and from Bilston, said: "We support Promise Dreams as a charity anyway, so we just decided that we would try to raise some money for them. We have managed to raise about £1,000, which hopefully will rise.
"We are not really walkers, the furthest some of us have done is to the pub or up and down the stairs, so this is the longest some of us have walked."
Other participants included Paul Cooper, 45, and friend Tina Caldicott, 33, from East Park, who were dressed as Snow White and one of her dwarves. Fitness instructor Tina, and Paul, an inclusion manager at New Park School, have managed to raise about £500 through their donations and sponsorship.
Paul said: "It's a brilliant opportunity to raise money and awareness for kids, to give them an experience.
"Why not dress as a dwarf? It's nice and bright, and will help raise a bit of awareness."
