Heart of Kent Hospice Parade: Elmer’s coming to town this summer
Heart of Kent Hospice Parade: Elmer’s coming to town this summer and bringing some much-needed colour and joy!
Heart of Kent Hospice, along with its Official Partners and Sponsors, are excited that Elmer’s Big Heart of Kent Parade will be taking place in Maidstone this summer.
Last March the Hospice had to take the decision to postpone the Parade for a year and are excited to confirm that in this, their 30th anniversary year, it will be running for nine weeks from Saturday 19 June until Sunday 22 August.
With a blaze of colour and creativity, Elmer and his friends will bring a ton of fun and laughter to our local area. After what has been a difficult year for everyone, this Parade is a chance for the whole community to come together to recover, heal and have some fun!
Heart of Kent Hospice has been working behind the scenes with its Official Partners and Sponsors to plan how the nine-week trail can go ahead in a Covid-secure way. Social distancing measures will be accommodated at each sculpture, and there are three suggested walks within the trail, totalling around six miles.
As well as being a brilliant day (or few hours) out, the Parade will support Maidstone’s post-pandemic revival. It will have a positive impact on our local economy, attracting people into the area and bringing benefits for local businesses. The trail will reflect the town’s history, economic heart and areas of natural beauty.
2020 was a tough year for everyone. Heart of Kent Hospice’s fundraising was significantly impacted. All 14 of their shops were forced to close at various stages throughout the year and most fundraising events were cancelled. Through it all, Heart of Kent Hospice has been on the frontline, supporting terminally ill people, their carers, families and other healthcare professionals in our local area.
Cheri Strudwick, Head of Supporter Development at Heart of Kent Hospice, said:
“We are so excited to welcome Elmer’s Big Heart of Kent Parade to Maidstone. This free outdoor trail will provide a much-needed boost to everyone’s wellbeing and the economy.
“This is the perfect opportunity for everyone to get outside and have some fun while discovering the huge range of Elmer designs created by some incredibly talented artists.”
More about the Heart of Kent Hospice Parade…
The location of each Elmer will be revealed via a beautifully hand-illustrated map available at key town centre locations across Maidstone or via the free Parade app available on 19 June. Each Elmer sculpture will have a unique app code that reveals some exciting rewards to download.
We’d encourage all our readers to join in the elephant-sized fun this summer and help the Hospice celebrate a fantastic 30th anniversary. Watch out for some colourful creations visiting a street near you in June.
You can keep up to date on all the Parade latest news, download the app and find out more about becoming a volunteer Parade Trailmaker this summer by visiting www.elmermaidstone.co.uk
