Going the Extra Mile: Hawk Training Comes Together to Support Shooting Star Children’s Hospices
From a 17.5-mile sponsored walk across London, to a competitive charity shop takeover, Hawk Training colleagues have been putting teamwork, determination and generosity into action to raise vital funds for Shooting Star Children’s Hospices.
At Hawk Training, giving back to our community is something we’re passionate about. This September, our colleagues came together for two exciting fundraising activities, all with one shared goal: to make a meaningful difference to children and families supported by Shooting Star Children’s Hospices.
Through our Walk with Hawk sponsored challenge and a charity shop takeover in Teddington and Cobham, our teams have raised an incredible £6,144.60 for this important cause.
Here’s how our colleagues stepped up, got involved and made every effort count.
Walk with Hawk: 17.5 Miles for an Incredible Cause
On Wednesday 16th September 2026, a team of Hawk Training colleagues swapped their desks for walking shoes as they took on a 17.5-mile sponsored walk across London.
The event, aptly named Walk with Hawk, formed part of our annual Giving Back Day, bringing colleagues together to raise funds and awareness for Shooting Star Children’s Hospices.
Starting at the iconic clock at Waterloo Station at 9am, our team followed the Thames Path, passing some of London’s best-known landmarks, including Battersea Power Station, Chelsea Football Club, Putney Bridge, Hammersmith, Chiswick and Richmond, before reaching the finish line at our Hawk Training headquarters in Twickenham.
There were plenty of conversations, encouragement and tired legs along the way, but one thing kept everyone moving: knowing that every step was helping to support an incredibly important cause.
Thanks to the generosity of colleagues, friends, families and supporters, Walk with Hawk raised over £3,600, with additional contributions made through Gift Aid.
It was a fantastic achievement and a brilliant example of what can happen when people come together behind a shared purpose.
The Great Charity Shop Takeover: Rack Stars vs The Big 6 Energy
But the fundraising didn’t stop there!
Our colleagues took their fundraising efforts one step further with a charity shop takeover, bringing some friendly competition to two Shooting Star charity shops.
Two teams went head-to-head, each determined to raise the most money for the charity in a single day.
Meet the teams:
- Rack Stars – Teddington: Taking over the Shooting Star charity shop in Teddington, the Rack Stars were ready to turn donated goods into valuable funds for the charity.
- The Big 6 Energy – Cobham: Over in Cobham, The Big 6 Energy brought their enthusiasm and competitive spirit to the shop floor, with their sights firmly set on the fundraising crown.
Swapping their usual day-to-day responsibilities for a taste of charity retail, our colleagues got stuck into helping the shops make the most of the day.
With a little healthy rivalry and a lot of teamwork, both teams shared the same ultimate goal: to raise as much money as possible for Shooting Star Children’s Hospices.
And the Winning Team Is...
After a day of friendly competition, the results were in!
The Big 6 Energy took the fundraising crown, raising an impressive £1,309.60 at their charity shop.
Not far behind, Rack Stars raised a fantastic £1,160, bringing the combined total for the charity shop takeover to £2,469.60.
A huge congratulations to our winning team, and an equally big thank you to everyone who took part!
While there could only be one winner on the day, the real success was the money raised for Shooting Star Children’s Hospices and the difference those funds can help make.
Together, We've Raised over £6,000!
From walking 17.5 miles across London to taking over two charity shops, our colleagues have shown just how much can be achieved when we work together.
Across both fundraising activities, Hawk Training has raised an incredible £6,144.60 for Shooting Star Children’s Hospices.
Every donation, every mile walked and every purchase made during the charity shop takeover has contributed to supporting a cause that means so much to families across Surrey and London.
We’re enormously grateful to everyone who sponsored our walkers, visited the charity shops, donated or supported our teams along the way.
Supporting the Incredible Work of Shooting Star Children's Hospices
Shooting Star Children’s Hospices is a leading charity supporting babies, children and young people with life-limiting conditions, alongside their families across Surrey and London.
The charity provides a wide range of essential services, including specialist nursing and medical care, practical assistance and emotional support. From diagnosis through to end-of-life care and bereavement, its dedicated team helps families navigate extraordinarily challenging circumstances.
For the children and families it supports, every moment matters.
Whether that’s creating opportunities for precious memories, providing comfort during difficult times or simply being there when families need someone to turn to, the charity’s work makes a profound difference.
We’re incredibly proud to support an organisation whose compassion, dedication and commitment to families reflect the values we believe in at Hawk Training.
Find out more about the great work Shooting Star Children’s Hospices do: https://www.shootingstar.org.uk/
A Word from Shooting Star Children's Hospices
“It has been such a pleasure to work alongside Hawk Training on their recent fundraising activities, Walk with Hawk and the Apprentice Shop Challenge. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who took part, supported their colleagues and helped make both events such a success. Their enthusiasm, teamwork and generosity have been inspiring, and the incredible amount raised will make a meaningful difference to the children and families we support. A heartfelt thank you to everyone at Hawk Training for your dedication to Shooting Star Children’s Hospices.”
– Bea Welch, Community Fundraiser
Shooting Star Children’s Hospice
Giving Back Is Part of Who We Are
At Hawk Training, we believe that making a positive difference extends beyond the training and development we deliver every day.
Our annual Giving Back Day provides colleagues with an opportunity to step away from their usual responsibilities and contribute to causes that matter, strengthening our connections with one another and the communities around us.
This year’s fundraising activities have been a brilliant reflection of that commitment.
Whether it was the determination of our Walk with Hawk participants or the enthusiasm and competitive spirit of our charity shop teams, every colleague involved played a part in making these activities a success.
More importantly, they’ve reminded us that giving back doesn’t have to look just one way. Whether you’re walking miles, volunteering your time or helping raise funds in your local community, every contribution matters.
A Huge Thank You from Hawk Training!
To everyone who walked, volunteered, donated, sponsored, shopped or cheered us on: thank you!
We’re incredibly proud of what our colleagues have achieved together, and even prouder to have played a part in supporting the remarkable work of Shooting Star Children’s Hospices.
Although our fundraising activities have come to an end, there’s still an opportunity to support this fantastic cause.
