NHS charity challenges children to host a Tiny Toes Toddle

The charity is urging nurseries, play groups, child minders, infant schools and parents to host a sponsored half-mile walk to raise money for the Tiny Toes appeal, which aims to raise £150,000 to support premature and poorly babies.

The Tiny Toes Toddle is for children of all ages and can be completed at nursery, school, with your play group, family or friends anytime in June or July 2024. 

Toddlers with a flair for fundraising at Bright Stars Play Space at Parkgate are the first to sign up.

Caroline Austen, co-founder of Bright Stars Play Space, said: “We’re big fans of the Tiny Toes appeal at Bright Stars because many of the youngsters we care for will have spent time on the neonatal unit at Rotherham Hospital when they were born. 

“Now we see them healthy, happy and full of mischief here, we want to encourage them to fundraise for other tiny tots and their families when they really need it the most.

“We absolutely love the idea of a Tiny Toes Toddle and excitedly signed up to host our own with our daughter Rosie and everyone at Bright Stars as soon as we heard about the challenge. Our small and mighty participants will earn every penny they’re sponsored as we plan to include an assault course in our Toddle!

“We hope other play spaces, groups and schools follow our lead and take part too.”

The sponsored walk is aimed at youngsters aged under five, although children of all ages and abilities can take part. Those learning to toddle can roll along from the comfort of their pushchairs and older siblings can jog alongside too - the more the merrier! 

A Tiny Toes Toddle can be indoors or out, at nursery, school or play group or event at a local park or woodland trail. 

It’s free to take part but the charity would like Tiny Toes Toddler’s to raise as much as possible by requesting sponsorship.

The charity’s Tiny Toes appeal was launched in August 2023 and aims to raise £150,000. 

The unit and its caring and compassionate staff are highly praised by families, but the facilities required upgrading to ensure their excellent standard of care can continue for generations to come. The unit had not been upgraded in 40 years. 

The Trust has refurbished the unit to future-proof it, with the charity continuing to fundraise in 2024 to make it an extra special home from home for families when they need it the most. 

Rachael Dawes, Head of Fundraising, said: “We know that great things happen when communities come together to fundraise and while we have some amazing challenges for adults, we wanted to inspire children to do something small but mighty to fundraise for others like them.

“We know that our Tiny Toes appeal has captured the hearts of so many fundraisers from Rotherham and beyond, which is why we’ve raised a magnificent £90,000 so far. But our hard work won’t stop until we reach our £150,000 target. We hope parents of toddlers, or those who care for them at nursery, school or at a play group will be with us every step of the way.”