On Friday 28 June 2019, 78 ladies from Shree Swaminarayan Mandir Kingsbury joined hundreds of other women for St Luke’s Midnight Walk. The youngest of the walkers from the Mandir team was just 15, whilst the most senior was 76 years old. They walked 9 miles to raise much needed funds for the local hospice, who the Mandir has support since its opening in 2014. The Mandir also supported the pre-event by providing some of the entertainment, in the form of musicians from Shree Muktajeevan Swamibapa Dhol Academy. Furthermore, 10 volunteers provided clerical and administrative assistance, whilst another 35 volunteers from the Mandir provided marshalling and security for the hundreds of ladies who took part in this year’s midnight walk.
Rachel Wagstaff, Director of Fundraising and Communications at St Luke’s Hospice conveyed, “Our enormous gratitude to everyone at Shree Swaminarayan Mandir (Kingsbury) for all your help and support at our annual fundraising event, Midnight Walk. Your support means that people at the end of their life in Harrow and Brent can get the complete care they need in the place of their choice. The Temple has supported the Midnight Walk since 2014, and this year an incredible 78 walkers took part from the Mandir, raising well over £2,000 to give the best possible end of life care to local people. Our huge thanks also go out to the volunteer marshals and dhol players who ensure the event can take place and help create a wonderful experience for participants.
“We would like to send a special thank you to Mahesh and Pramila Bhojani for being on our Midnight Walk event committee and helping to make it an amazing success once again. I would like to thank all those that got involved from the Mandir and supported this year’s Midnight Walk, your ongoing commitment means we can continue to deliver free care for local people, both now and in the future.”
Patron of St Luke’s Hospice, Lord Dolar Popat also thanked the Mandir for the on-going support, and conveyed his regards to Acharya Swamishree Maharaj, who inspired the Mandir team to celebrate the fifth anniversary of Shree Swaminarayan Mandir, Kingsbury through supporting the charity.