£5,000 Event Success, As Charity Marks Foodie-Themed Post-Covid Return

Food lovers, families and a group of Suffolk choristers have helped Ormiston Families restart their event programme post-Covid, with the ever-popular Walk With a Fork.

Staged at Helmingham Hall last weekend, the event saw dozens of fundraising foodies follow a trail around the venue grounds, and enjoy a number of Suffolk-produced food and drink samples along the way.

Having been cancelled in 2020 because of the pandemic, this year’s occasion raised over £5,000 and featured five food stops, including the likes of Suffolk Salami and The Suffolk Pate Company.

Musical entertainment was provided for the event’s reception, by the East of England Co-op band and Orwell Connections Choir.

Kate Higgs, Director of Income Generation and Marketing for the charity, said: “We really could not have asked for a better way to restart our outdoor events programme, given the wonderful weather for the occasion, and the generous support of our exhibitors and our food-loving walkers.

“Walk With a Fork has long been a much-loved activity in our schedule, and it’s one we were particularly keen to stage in this our 40^th anniversary year, to draw attention to our All Doors Open campaign and remind people living and working in Suffolk that there are many families and individuals in need of support – especially after the challenging 18 months of Covid.”

She added: “Fundraising events like this are absolutely essential for charities like ours to be able to continue to meet demand. We have seen a significant rise for our mental health support of women and young people, and for families with a person in prison, so something like Walk With a Fork really does make a huge difference to what we can deliver.”

For more information about the work being carried out by Ormiston Families in its anniversary year, visit the charity’s website at https://www.ormiston.org/