Yesterday, on Sunday 26 March 2023, over 1,000 Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation (SCHF) supporters rallied together in the early hours of the morning and conquered the annual Walk for Kids with Cancer from The Rocks to Balmoral (13km) and Manly (27km).  

 Our two patient ambassadors, Kyah and Mia joined Carol Wilson, wife of the event’s late founder Bob ‘Tug’ Wilson, to cut the starting line ribbon and open the event.

(Pictured from left to right: Mia, Carol and Kyah cut the ribbon to mark the official start of Walk for Kids with Cancer 2023).

On the day, participants travelled along the beautiful coastline of Sydney’s harbour and braved countless steps and hills in an effort to make every kilometre count for sick kids fighting cancer across NSW and beyond.  

(Pictured: Our Movement of Many along the scenic course of Walk for Kids with Cancer).

Looking back on the day, Head of Walker Support, Jonny Miller says “There are no words to describe how proud I am of our Movement of Many, who travelled from inner cities and outer suburbs, regional, rural and beyond to join our fight against childhood cancer.  

“Since opening registrations in mid-January, we’ve seen a record-breaking number of participants sign up for the event, which is extraordinary. Majority of our walkers know or have a child currently undergoing cancer treatment and to see everyone come together including their treating clinicians, is so special. There’s no other event like it.” 

Also among the crowd was this year’s Presenting Partners, Heartland Motors who were thrilled to meet everyone on the ground after supporting their extraordinary fundraising efforts through two dollar-matching days. 

CEO of Heartland Motors, Keiran Turner says “The energy from yesterday is still so high and the whole team at Heartland Motors are so proud to have been able to support this year’s event. We had the honour of meeting several patient families and their clinicians on the day, and to hear first-hand how the funds raised will support the frontline of children’s healthcare is incredibly rewarding.  

Funds raised from this year’s event will be directed to Sydney’s two leading paediatric cancer departments, the Kids Cancer Centre at Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick and the Cancer Centre for Children at The Children’s Hospitals at Westmead. 

With donations still flowing in to walkforkidscancer.org.au, the total fundraising amount of this year’s event will be announced in the coming days – so it’s not too late to still make a difference!  

Thank you to all of our unstoppable changemakers, from patient families to clinicians and our returning supporters, for going all in for kids’ health and making this year’s Walk for Kids with Cancer the greatest yet.  

A special mention out goes to all of our corporate supporters who helped make this event possible and ensured our walker’s goodie bags and tummies were full - Heartland Motors, Active Truth, MARS Wrigley, GC Brands, Santa Vittoria, Krispy Kreme, Elastoplast, Noshu, Vege Chips, Sonoma, Pepe Saya Buttery, Carmex, Health Lab and the Happy Snack Co. 

If you’re feeling inspired to take on a personal challenge but missed out this year’s Walk for Kids with Cancer, registrations for City2Surf on Sunday 13 August 2023 are opening tomorrow at 11am! Sign up to support Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation by joining Team SCHF to go the distance for sick kids.