MORE than 200 people are today collecting their sponsorship money after they turned out to walk miles for Shona's smile.Dog walkers, mums with pushchairs, children and grandparents could all be seen doing circuits around Bourne Park in Ipswich for Shona's Smile Appeal.
MORE than 200 people are today collecting their sponsorship money after they turned out to walk miles for Shona's smile.
Dog walkers, mums with pushchairs, children and grandparents could all be seen doing circuits around Bourne Park in Ipswich for Shona's Smile Appeal.
The appeal was set up to raise money to help the treatment of nine-year-old Shona Gill who has cancer.
Walkers were doing anything from one mile, which was one circuit of the park, to 26 miles.
Groups took part from the Co-op in Prince of Wales Drive, Willis, Asda, The Evening Star and members of Suffolk Police did the whole walk in their riot gear.
Shona of Laurelhayes, Ipswich, was also scheduled to do one lap of the park herself.
Her dad Pete Gill paid tribute to all those who had helped out, particularly David Stone who had organised the whole event.
He said: "David has been totally unselfish. This has taken two months to arrange all this with help from street members who are all here in various capacities.
"It is absolutely amazing to see all these people doing this when some of them don't even know Shona.
"To see the determination on their faces is unbelievable.
"There are kids who are out there just giving it there all."
Cartons of milk for walkers were donated by the Co-op and bottles of water were donated by XL Windows while certificates were courtesy of 321 printing and a gazebo was donated by B&Q.
Members of the Air Training Corps from Wattisham and Stowmarket were also on hand to keep an eye on the event along with St John Ambulance.
The event was expected to raise thousands of pounds for Shona's Smile Appeal
N If you have raised money for Shona, tell us how she has touched your heart? Write in to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or send us an e-mail to eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk or visit the forum at www.eveningstar.co.uk
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