What a brilliant night once again for team Sparkle Shorts at this years Ashgate Hospice Sparkle Walk.
A warm Saturday evening in Chesterfield, the team met for food to get some pre-walk energy (Pizza is good for energy) and headed to the SMG Group stadium.
The crowd gathered - a sea of pink t shirts, flashing bunny ears, and tutus. It's a real carnival atmosphere, it's wonderful.
We collected our bunny ears, added some glitter and sparkle, and then grabbed an official selfie from the photo booth.
As the 10pm start time drew closer, bands played on the main stage, and we were ready and excited for the walk ahead.
As we passed the start line, a chance to be caught in a photo or two. Beth and Craig did get snapped in an effortless casual pose!
And so to cheers and cries of "Good Luck!" and "Have fun!" And so we were on our way, past Casa, and headed down the bypass - which is a surreal place to walk when you're used to it being full of cars!
Flanked by entertainment including singers, DJs, firebreathers, bubbles, and bystanders cheering us on from the bridges over the roads, and ahead a bright and shining wave of flashing bunny ears.
Hasland Park the next stop - the halfway point, where we were greeted with the option of an ice cream, and mid-walk refreshments, along with water, bananas, and chocolate bars, quickly consumed by the War Memorial.
Onto Storforth lane and the second leg of the event, taking us through the residential streets where a lot of people had come out of their houses to give us high fives, shout encouragement, and some football score updates (England were playing in the World Cup) we skirted the edge of Queen's Park, through Ravenside retail park and a wonderful choir singing us by, and back along the bypass as the clock struck midnight and a new day began.
Some tired legs now at around the 9k point, but the cheers kept us going. And the promise of a cup of tea and a bacon sandwich at the finish!
Celebrations as we made it, and received our medals with many congratulations and hugs all round.
We were tired, hot, and very proud to have completed another amazing sparkle walk and raised a nice sum of money for an incredible, meaningful, and local cause.
Here's to next year!
Team Sparkle Shorts. Craig, Alicia, Beth, Andy & Kieley.
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