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More than 250 people took part in an emotional night-time charity walk at The Lost Gardens of Heligan on Saturday 7 November.

Children’s Hospice South West’s (CHSW) annual Moonlight Memory Walk took place for the 5th year running at the gardens in Pentewan near St Austell.

The event has raised £32,000 for the charity, with money still coming in, which runs the Little Harbour children’s hospice in nearby Porthpean. 

Participants, many proudly wearing handwritten dedications to loved ones, joined a special memory ceremony, where their dedications to their loved ones played on screen. They listened to speeches from the Cadoux family from Plymouth, whose son Josh died in June 2026. The family are supported by Little Harbour. 

There were poems read by the Little Harbour Care and Fundraising teams and a live performance from St Mewan Community Choir. This was followed by a one-minute applause and silence.

The 4k walk featured poignant places to stop and remember loved ones, where participants could mark their memory by lighting a candle, leaving a message in a remembrance book, leaving a fingerprint on a canvas and creating bracelets with their loved one’s initials.

Kiley Pearce, Events Fundraiser for CHSW, said:

 We would like to thank our participants, many of whom have attended Moonlight Memory Walk for the last 16 years. The evening had a real balance of being emotional, but also uplifting, and we encouraged our walkers to think about the magical moments they had with their loved ones and share these memories on the evening.

“Thank you to St Mewan Community Choir, Lankelly Shout, St Austell Brewery and Toby Davies for singing and creating a beautiful atmosphere at Heligan, and to the Cornish Oven for providing pasties at the finish line.”

Little Harbour provides free support to babies, children and young people with life limiting illnesses and their families, including respite, palliative care, end of life care and bereavement support. The hospice also offers resilience stays, as well as support in families’ own homes. 

Moonlight Memory Walk was kindly sponsored by Naturally Learning, Stephens Scown Solicitors, Toad Hall Cottages and St Eval candle and gift company, meaning that all the sponsorship raised on the evening can go towards the vital care and support offered to local families. The evening was also kindly supported by CTC Medical Services and The Cornish Oven.