Clear skies and a bright future for fostering
On a glorious Saturday morning in June, Philip Jacob, funding and development manager at The Fostering Network, joined a happy throng of around 180 of our members, supporters, staff, friends, and family, all gathered to celebrate our fifth Foster Walk London. It was an amazing day and, for him, really affirmed what a positive thing it is we are all trying to achieve together by fundraising for this vital cause.
Here's what Phil has to say.
I’ve taken part in all five Foster Walks so far and have loved each one. There’s always something really special about the day. It’s an opportunity to meet some of the people who make foster care so great and those who support it. It also allows those of us participating to take a step back from day to day challenges, to celebrate and have fun.
This year, our excited group of walkers, including families with children of all ages, teams from fostering services, and our friends from Haven, The Mortgage Brain and Towergate, set off under a clear blue sky. Rounding the Tower of London and joining the crowds that thronged over Tower Bridge it was clear we were there for a purpose, thanks to everyone’s vivid orange outfits, teams in matching t-shirts, giant foam fingers and dogs in fancy dress. Being part of such a colourful event, and meeting cheerful marshals at each turn, gave us the feeling the city was there for us and pride in who we are and our shared cause.
As well as being a lovely event, Foster Walk is also an important source of funds for us - vital in enabling us to deliver campaigns to improve life for fostered children and in providing direct support to foster families.
This year’s event has already raised thousands thanks to the efforts of walkers and to Haven who sponsored the event. This money, along with money from all our other fundraisers and donors and support from our corporate partner Dreams, hugely increases what we can do to make foster care the very best it can be.
At The Fostering Network, we are passionate that more children in foster care get the stability they need, the chance to maintain important relationships and the opportunities to grow, learn and achieve their potential. Whether it’s through campaigning, awareness raising or direct support services, we are working hard with our members to make this happen. So much of this work is only made possible by our fundraisers and supporters. That’s why the funds raised through Foster Walks, sponsored runs and challenges, like Tough Mudder or jumping out of a plane, bake sales and golf days, and those from all our supporters and partners, are so important.
The atmosphere of this year’s Foster Walk was infectious. Interested people stopped to talk to us along the way. Even on the train home, a woman who was considering fostering and saw my t-shirt was asking all about fostering and what The Fostering Network does. That’s exactly what we want to see – more people getting involved so that more fostered children’s lives can be transformed.
If you’re inspired to join us to help make foster care the very best it can be, there are so many ways you can get involved and fundraise for us: run, bake, dress-up, take part! We’ve produced a new fundraising guide that has some great ideas and tips, so why not have a look? Let us know what your plans are and we’ll help you every step of the way.
Check out this link to see the latest pictures from Foster Walk 2018!
