FAMILY and friends of St Rocco’s volunteer Ian Inman will be out in force this Friday after he sadly passed away very suddenly earlier this year.
Ian had been a loyal and dedicated volunteer on the Starlight Walk for the last ten years and his family decided that the ideal way to honour his memory, was to encourage as many of their family and friends to volunteer to marshall as possible.
Ian Inman
“It all started when five of the ladies of our family took part in the second Starlight Walk in memory of my mum,” Ian’s wife Linda explained: “Ian stayed up all night in case any of us were struggling on the walk and he needed to come and pick us up! The next year he decided that if he was going to stay up anyway, then he may as well volunteer to marshall and it all developed from there.”
Ian’s son Benn decided to join his dad the next year and since then the whole family have been loyal supporters of St. Rocco’s, not just at the Starlight Walk but at many other events and fundraising activities as well.
Friendships were formed and Ian, along with Linda and Benn, became part of a volunteering group who were known as ‘The A Team’ ‘The A Team’ at St. Rocco’s because if something needed to be done, they could be relied upon to do it, whether it was erecting gazebos, setting up stalls or any other tasks required at fundraising events.
“Over the years we have done all sorts, we’ve marshalled at the Lantern Walk and last year’s Colour Run where I think we ended up with more paint on us than the runners!” said Benn.
It is the Starlight Walk though, which holds special memories and significance for them.
“We always get in a party mood,” said Benn “As marshalls we all have as many accessories on as the ladies! It started with pink tutus and pink wigs and this year we will have lots of fairy lights and light up gloves!” They also make sure they have plenty of sweets and treats to hand out to encourage the ladies as they pass by.
This year they will have another special accessory. Benn has arranged for the family and friends to wear hi-vis jackets with Ian’s picture on the back and all the ladies walking, including Linda, have his picture on the back of their pink T-shirts.
“Ian loved Starlight, we all do! In fact, I can’t believe that some ladies only do it once! It’s such a fantastic night and a wonderful atmosphere. We all look forward to it. We knew that Ian wouldn’t have wanted us to miss it and it will be a fantastic way to remember him.”
Alison White, Clinical Lead at St. Rocco’s said, “Our volunteers are crucial to St. Rocco’s. We really couldn’t do what we do without them. We are so grateful for people like Ian and his family and friends for their support. It costs £3.2million a year for St. Rocco’s to deliver our care to those affected by life limiting illnesses and their families and we rely on over 70% of that amount to come from the generosity of the Warrington community.”
If you would like to support the St. Rocco’s Starlight Walk and the ladies of Warrington, then you can make a donation by texting STAR003 to 70070.
