Singer Lemar counts down for Londoners as they ‘Step into the Night’ to give children in the UK and around the world a brighter future

Blog

Published on Wednesday, 21 September 2011 20:55

Last Updated on 21 September 2011

Monica Costa

0 Comments

Wednesday 21st September: Chart topping singer Lemar kicked off Barclays annual ‘Take One Small Step into the Night’ sponsored walk in style tonight, as up to one thousand Barclays employees, friends and members of the public put their best foot forward through the streets of the capital to raise funds to help transform the lives of children in the UK and around the world by giving them the education and healthcare they deserve.

Established three years ago, money raised by the participants on the 10km night walk, who are encouraged to get sponsored for their efforts, supports UNICEF, the leading children’s organisation and Heart Radio’s charity, Have a Heart.

The event began at 6.30pm with a mini festival by the Thames-side start line with live entertainment, food and drink. Singer songwriter Lemar took part in a live interview with Heart presenters Nick Snaith and Nicola Bonn before leading the countdown and cutting the ribbon to officially start this year’s event, which saw walkers cross Tower Bridge, taking in some of London’s most iconic landmarks on route.

Talking at the event, London-raised Lemar commented:

“Not only is tonight’s event a great, fun evening out and a fantastic opportunity to see the beauty of London in a unique way, it is also supporting a hugely important cause – children.

“I know that many children across the UK and around the world face huge difficulties. Tonight’s ‘Take one small step into the night’ sponsored walk will make a massive difference to thousands of children both home and abroad by giving them the education and healthcare they deserve, and by supporting two leading charities – UNICEF and ‘Have a Heart’.

Thank you to all of the Barclays staff, friends and members of the public for turning out in such numbers and their support. Each and every step will make a difference to a young person.”

Up to one thousand Londoners took part in the challenge, with most walkers taking between two to three hours to complete the course. To date, ‘Take one small step into the night’ has raised funds to support children across the UK and Africa.

UNICEF is the world’s leading organisation working for children and their rights in more than 190 countries. As champion of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, UNICEF works to help every child realise their full potential. Together with our partners, UNICEF delivers health care, nutrition, education and protection to children in urgent need, while working with governments to ensure they deliver on their promise to protect and promote the rights of every child.

UNICEF relies entirely on voluntary donations from individuals, governments, institutions and corporations, and is not funded by the UN budget. For more information, please visit www.unicef.org.uk.

Have a Heart is the official charity of Heart radio. Launched in 2009 our aim is to improve the lives of disadvantaged children who live in the communities to which Heart broadcasts. Have a Heart is a grant giving charity working with national charity partners who deliver their work in all of these areas, and money raised from Take One Small Step Into The Night will be awarded to our outgoing partner for 2010-2011 Children’s Hospices UK. Specifically money raised will be used to extend the care and support given to seriously ill children & their families in their own homes. Money raised by Have a Heart throughout the partnership year will fund a new vehicle for 29 hospices within the Heart broadcast area, as well as additional nursing hours to expand this much needed service. For more information visit the Have a Heart section at www.heart.co.uk