CHILDREN’s charity Barnardo’s is encouraging nurseries, schools and families to put their best foot forward and sign up to the 2018 Big Toddle event, to help the charity further their work in the region. This year’s theme is ‘nature’.

During last year’s event, nurseries and playgroups across Cheshire raised over £4,700.

Children and families toddled half a mile during the charity event, raising money for vulnerable children, all while dressed in their brightest outfits for the theme of ‘colours’.

Youngsters from Neston raised £1,250, infants from Macclesfield raised £1,213, toddlers from Northwich raised £943, little ones in Crewe raised £875, and tots in Wilmslow and Chester raised £324 and £115 respectively.

Lynn Perry, Barnardo’s Regional Director, said: “The Big Toddle is a great opportunity for under-5s to have fun with their friends and families and raise money to help disadvantaged children.

“The nature theme means youngsters and their families can be really imaginative with fancy dress ideas and Barnardo’s has some great resources to help everyone taking part and to enjoy the great outdoors.”

The 2018 Big Toddle week runs in from June 18 to 24, and for the second year is being run in partnership with CBeebies show Teletubbies.

Since 1997, the Big Toddle has raised almost £15 million. In 2017, thousands of under-fives across the UK toddled their way towards raising more than £265,350 for Barnardo’s.

Ms Perry added: “We would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who was involved in last year’s Big Toddle. We hope even more communities, nurseries and families will get involved with our 2018 events, to help us continue funding our vital work with vulnerable children, young people, parents and carers in the region.”

To get involved and hold a Toddle event in your community, find out more at bigtoddle.co.uk or call 0800 008 7007