3 GoodGymmers volunteered to help out at the annual Sunflower Walk, which raises money for the Thames Hospice. About 700 walkers took part, and could choose to walk 2.5, 10 or 21 km. Ruth, Alex and Sheila had all been allocated marshal positions on the half marathon route, which had about 150 people registered to take part. We collected our High-viz jackets from the Hospice first thing, and then made our way to our designated places, Sheila and Alex cycling along the river in very pleasant conditions, hampered only by groups of walkers doing a memory walk along the Thames Path in the opposite direction, in support of Alzheimers. Ruth helped carry water to the water station before positioning herself to wait for the first walkers to come through. The participants were easily identifiable by their bright green T-shirts with a sunflower motif and some were also had sunflowers painted on their cheeks or sunflower-themed deely boppers. Some walked serenely alone, others joyfully in groups, and everything inbetween. Highlights were a walker in a kilt, a walker being pulled along by his determined dog, and a group of 12 walkers walking in memory of a good friend who had recently spent her last days at the Hospice.
Ruth had the good fortune to be marshalling in a much-envied position outside a pub, seeing walkers both on the way out and the way back. There was no drinking on the job, though, just a soft drink and a good old bowl of chips! She gave out sweets to walkers and came to the rescue of a lady doing the memory walk, with plasters for her painful feet. Alex was stationed half way up the hill to the castle in Windsor, together with a lady who volunteered regularly for Thames Hospice as her husband had sadly died there, but had been very well looked after. They gave the walkers lots of encouragement as they toiled up the hill, and the Macdonalds across the road became the unofficial pit stop for toilets, coffee and ice cream. They were a lot happier on the way back as they were on then on the way home so it was "all downhill’’ from there! Sheila had the most scenic spot, at the end of the long walk, so watched the walkers come down from the castle, and was able to tell them that they were now halfway through the walk, which made them very happy. I think we all developed other roles on the day too, directing tourists, taking pictures, and giving out bottles of water. It was very hot and humid, and although our marshal points were relatively close together, our paths did not cross. Nonetheless it was a good day out, and we were pleased to be able to help out for a fantastic cause.

Thanks to everyone's contributions to this report