The family-friendly Little Hospice Heroes’ event is bigger and better this year by being the central feature to Pendleside Hospice’s Carnival In The Park.

The fun-filled day takes place in Barrowford Park on Sunday, August 18, and apart from the children’s walk, there will also be a workshop to teach children circus skills; a duck race on the river; and craft, cake and sweet stalls. Pendleside are hoping around 250 children will enter the Little Hospice Heroes’ walk which is open to boys and girls aged 14 years and under who must be accompanied by an adult.

The 3k route around the park starts at 10.30am – with registration opening at 9.30am in the hospice marquee – and takes about an hour. Each child will receive a medal, a goody bag and a packed lunch.

Entry is £7.50 per child which only covers the cost of putting on the event and children are urged to raise as much sponsorship money as possible to help support the hospice’s work in the community.

Hospice fundraiser Jo Applegate said: “Last year the Little Hospice Heroes raised an amazing £7,000 and it would be fantastic if we could top that this year.

“We have moved the event to Barrowford after a successful time at Towneley Park because we wanted to share it across the boroughs of Burnley and Pendle.

“Apart from the walk we have the additional attraction of the circus skills workshop and the duck race where people can buy a plastic duck for £2 to take part.  It will be so much fun.”

Jo added: “This year we are introducing a sponsorship challenge and every child who raises a minimum £25 will receive a Pendleside pin badge and those who raise a minimum £50 will be awarded a pin badge and a collectable Pendleside Hospice bear. And anyone who raises over £75 will also receive a free place in next year’s walk.”

Children can register online at www.­pendleside.­org.­uk or call the fundraising team on 01282 440120. You will then receive a Little Hospice Heroes T-shirt voucher and sponsor pack in the post. Details of T-shirt collection dates will be in your pack.

Pendleside Hospice provides care to local people with life-limiting illnesses and support to their family and carers. It costs more than £4.2million a year to run the hospice of which less than £1million is provided by the NHS. The rest – in excess of £3.2million – is raised by the generosity of the local community.