Sunrise Walk Exceeds All Expectations Raising £10k for SeeSaw Charity

A sponsored sunrise walk at Blenheim Palace in memory of loved ones raised more than £10,000 for charity on Sunday (20th September).

The event, which was organised by SeeSaw, attracted more than 200 participants; far exceeding the expectations of organisers.

SeeSaw, which offers grief support for children and young people in Oxfordshire, is Blenheim’s official charity for 2020.

“As Blenheim Palace’s Charity of the Year for 2020 SeeSaw was delighted to be able to hold our socially distanced Sunrise Walk in memory of loved ones on Sunday,” said SeeSaw’s Jane Elliott, who organised the event.

“The beautiful Blenheim grounds provided the most perfect setting. Over 200 people came along, including many of the families that SeeSaw has been supporting this year.

“It was a wonderful opportunity to come together as a community to walk and remember those who have died. We are hugely grateful to Blenheim Palace for so kindly allowing us to hold this special event, which has raised around £10,470 for SeeSaw.

“This figure far exceeds what we imagined we would raise, given everything that has happened this year,” she added.

Since its launch in 2000, SeeSaw has supported over 6,639 children from 3,957 families to reduce the emotional, psychological and mental health consequences of bereavement.

As a registered charity, it relies on its own fundraising for over 85% of its grief support running costs. The cost of running the service is approximately £422,700 a year for which it depends on widespread support from individuals, local communities, businesses and trusts.

“We are all absolutely delighted with the amazing success of the sunrise walk,” said Stephanie Duncan, Blenheim’s Marketing and Communications Director.

“SeeSaw is such a fantastic charity and an incredibly important resource for young people facing the worst possible news, offering them help and support to cope with and understand their grief,” she added

As a result of the disruption due to the coronavirus, Blenheim Palace has confirmed it will extend SeeSaw’s charity of the year status into 2021. Blenheim supports the work of local charities as part of its 10 Goals.

·         For more information about SeeSaw visit www.seesaw.org.uk.

For more information please contact Jane Elliott at SeeSaw on 07732 494381 or email fundraiser@seesaw.org.uk or Drew Cunliffe at drew@flamingo-marketing.co.uk .