WALK for Wards – the Stars Appeal fundraiser for Salisbury Hospital – broke records, raising almost £167,000 for the cause.

The event, the 20th running of Walk for Wards, saw more than 2,000 people take part in a charity trek at Wilton House on July 6.

And now the counting is done, the total has been revealed – with £166,946 raised.

Participants walked 3k, 5k,10k or the new 15k route to thank Salisbury District Hospital for the care they or their family have received, with some dedicating their walk in memory of a friend, parent, sibling or child.

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As part of the celebrations, walkers also enjoyed live entertainment from local musicians while picnicking on the lawns.

Chair of the Stars Appeal Ambassadors and consultant surgeon, Graham Branagan, said: “This record-breaking total is a testament to the incredible support and generosity of our local community.

“I want to say a massive thank you to everyone who took part, sponsored somebody, volunteered, or helped organise Walk for Wards for making the 20th event so special.

“The money raised helps us provide the very best care for thousands of patients and their families across the hospital.”

This year’s event surpassed the £150,051 raised in 2024 and the record-breaking £157,922 raised in 2023.
Money raised from the sponsored walk will go towards the £2 million Stars Appeal effort to fund equipment, enhancements to buildings, and ongoing projects across the hospital.

To date, Walk for Wards has raised more than £1.5 million, which has helped fund projects across Salisbury Hospital including the hospital’s first dedicated Breast Unit, a new Children’s Unit, Cardiac Suite and family accommodation on the Neonatal Unit, as well as state-of-the-art equipment such as additional MRI and CT scanners.

The first walk took place in 2006 and was a six-mile ramble through the Chalke Valley, which started and finished at the Fox and Goose Pub in Coombe Bissett. The following year, the event moved to Wilton House and has been held there ever since – except during 2020 and 2021 when the walk was held virtually due to Covid-19.

The event is held by kind permission of Stars Appeal President Lord Pembroke and Lady Pembroke and sponsored by Salisbury Reds.

Walk for Wards 2026 takes place on Sunday, July 5. To find out more and register for free, visit starsappeal.org/event/walk-for-wards.