Walk to Support Butterfly Volunteers Departing from West Mid
Eight-mile route for fundraiser for the end-of-life support charity
Butterly Volunteers gather outside Chelsea and Westminster Hospital
August 21, 2026
A walk to support the Butterfly Volunteer Services, which supports patients at the end of their lives, will set off from West Middlesex Hospital next month.
Volunteers, staff and supporters from across the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust will come together next month for a special community fundraising event.
The eight-mile route, taking place on Sunday 13 September, will begin at West Middlesex University Hospital in Isleworth and finish at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, following the Thames through Kew, Chiswick and leaving the Thames Path at Hammersmith before reaching its destination.
The walk has become an annual moment of connection for the Butterfly Volunteers, who provide companionship and support to patients approaching the end of their lives. The Friends Charity funds the Butterfly Volunteer Coordinator, who recruits, trains and supports volunteers in offering comfort to patients and their loved ones at some of the most difficult moments they face. Over the first two fundraising walks, volunteers and supporters have raised more than £17,000 for the service. This year, the aim is to raise in excess of £10,000 to help ensure the programme can continue to provide this much-needed support.
Organisers say the event is designed to be welcoming, inclusive and enjoyable for everyone. Participants are encouraged to gather friends, family, colleagues and even pets to form teams, though anyone attending alone will be paired with fellow walkers. To add a little friendly competition, prizes will be awarded for the best dressed team, the best team name and the positivity enthusiast award.
Walkers can complete the full eight miles or join at a convenient point along the way, with live tracking available so supporters can find the group as it progresses through Isleworth, Kew Bridge, the river bend at Chiswick and onward to Hammersmith. Organisers emphasise that everyone is welcome, whether they wish to walk, donate or simply help spread the word.
Supporters can register their interest by emailing chelwest.butterflyvolunteers@nhs.net. Donations can be made via the JustGiving page, and participants are encouraged to share the link with friends, neighbours and colleagues who may wish to contribute. Those who prefer to support in person are warmly invited to join the walk and be part of a day that celebrates community, compassion and the volunteers who make the Butterfly Service possible.
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