CRY Heart of Durham Walk 2023

Thank you to the 202 supporters who joined us in Durham

On the 1st of October 2023, 202 of our supporters joined us to take part in the CRY Heart of Durham Walk.

We are extremely appreciative of every person that made the effort to join us on such an important day, a day where families can come together to reflect and remember those who were tragically taken due to Young Sudden Cardiac Death, and to support those who have been diagnosed with an inherited cardiac condition.

We were lucky enough to have beautiful weather for our supporters to walk the cobbled streets and riversides of the historical city of Durham.

Some of our CRY staff attended and helped set up the event including Lily Burke, Hiddy Denizer, Francesca Levett, Cara MacMillan and Ben Robinson. As always, it was a real team effort. Thanks to the staff at Durham Amateur Rowing Club, we were able to set up the morning of the walk so that everything was ready for our first walkers bright and early.

Walkers started arriving eagerly from 9:30am at the Durham Amateur Rowing Club to get checked in, aided by CRY volunteer, Marie. We are so glad to say that we had 39 supporters register on the day!

Once everyone had arrived, a beautiful speech was given by Jeff Morland, who worked with CRY to organise the first CRY Durham Walk 14 years ago, in memory of his son, Levon. Jeff spoke about the importance and significance of the day, the suffering that follows losing a loved one so young, and the importance of raising awareness to prevent such tragedies from occuring.

Jeff then introduced Steve Percival who also spoke about the importance of the day and how all the walkers should take in the wonderful views of Durham when reflecting and walking.

Steve then read the names of every young person our supports were walking in memory of, he gave them a chance to clap and cheer to celebrate their loved one’s life or have a moment of silence for them. Participants set off from the rowing club at 11am and walked alongside the river, toward Durham City Centre, aided by CRY volunteers Jeff, Jim, Joe and David throughout. The streets were soon filled with CRY T-shirts for the public to see.

All walkers were met with the astonishing site of Durham Cathedral, which supporters were welcome to visit and light a candle if they so wished. After the walkers joined back together, they continued travelling through the City of Durham and met back at the finish line at the Rowing Club.

Once the walk was completed by all our fantastic supporters, they were welcomed back by CRY volunteers, Pat and Dorothy, who handed out the walkers well-earned medals! Everyone then had a chance to relax, grab a drink and have a chat with their family or other supporters.

Supporters had already started writing message cards for the message wall before they set off so by the end of the day the wall was filled with heartwarming and thoughtful messages.

Doug Moody, as always, captured beautiful photos of the event throughout the day. He followed the walkers through Durham to capture the families (and dogs of course!) on a very special day.