More than 100 nursery staff and youngsters helped play their part in an annual fundraising drive for meningitis.
On April 12, Kiddi Caru Day Nursery on Broadmere Road in Basingstoke took part in the toddle waddle fundraising event.
The youngsters set out for a half-mile tour of Beggarwood following a course of yellow balloons.
Through sponsorship, the event raised cash for the Meningitis Trust, adding to the £2.8 million raised nationally to date.
Organising the event were nursery class leaders Vicky Lawford and Natalie White. They said they were keen to organise the toddle waddle event for the nursery and said it was important for parents to be aware of the disease.
Natalie said: “We really wanted to do something which would help make a difference and raise awareness, as well as money, and the toddle waddle is the best way to do both.
“At Kiddi Caru Day Nursery we care for children between the ages of three months and five years and so fully support the work carried out by the Meningitis Trust in researching the disease to enable vaccines to be produced.”
Vicky said: “All the children taking part in the event have taken a sponsorship form home, so parents, friends, neighbours or anyone who wishes to donate to the trust, can do so.
“The highlight of the event was seeing everyone take part in the waddle, staff, children and even some parents came to take part, so we’d like to thank everyone for their help and support in making the event a success.”
The nursery will now wait for the sponsorship forms to return before they can count how much they have raised.
Natalie said: “Everyone has been great in sponsoring the children for taking part in the event, we are hoping to raise somewhere in the region of £1,000.
“Anything above that would just be fantastic.”
The Meningitis Trust is a national charity offering community-based support for people affected by the disease in the UK.
It campaigns to raise awareness for the disease and funding for research into its long-term impact.
Meningitis is inflammation of the membranes that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord.
