Starlight Hike Peterborough 2025 FAQs

The decision to cancel was only made after detailed site assessments and weather monitoring, completed on Thursday 2nd October.

Until that point, we remained hopeful that the event could go ahead safely. All registered participants will receive a full refund.

We share in your deep disappointment and frustration at having to cancel Starlight Hike Peterborough for the second year running due to severe weather.

We choose to hold our Starlight Hikes in October because it allows our participants to experience a meaningful walk under the stars, beginning in the early evening so the event is safer and more accessible for more people and families.

The timing is important, and it’s what makes the event so poignant and symbolic for those walking in memory of loved ones.

Cancelling Starlight Hike is an extreme and last resort for us, and it is unprecedented for us to be forced to cancel two events running at the same location.

Ferry Meadows is a beautiful and safe venue but sadly, severe and unpredictable weather is becoming more common. The safety of our walkers, volunteers, and staff must always come first and the high winds forecast this year pose a serious risk, particularly in a parkland setting surrounded by trees.

This was not a decision taken lightly and one taken in partnership with our event venue hosts, Nene Park.

Moving forward, we’ll be reflecting carefully on all aspects of the event, the timing, location, and contingency plans as part of our ongoing commitment to provide a safe, special and successful experience for everyone who supports us.

We’re incredibly grateful for your understanding and continued support.

We would love to welcome you at one of our Starlight Hike events, which are planned to take place as normal across other areas later this month.

We have Starlight Hikes taking place in:

• Bedford
• Cheltenham
• Leeds
• Thames Valley (Reading)
• Worth Valley (Yorkshire)

These events are currently unaffected by the weather and will go ahead as planned.

We understand how meaningful Starlight Hike is for many of you, especially those walking in memory of someone special.

We warmly invite you to share a memory of your loved one and a dedication on our Sue Ryder Dedication Wall.

We also offer a range of grief support.

Yes. All registered participants are entitled to a full refund.

These will be automatically processed in 5-10 business days from the date of the event.

We would encourage you to complete your own Starlight Hike with friends and family when it is safe to do so. We hope your supporters will want to continue to support you in your fundraising for a cause that truly matters to you.

If your donors would prefer a refund, please contact supportercare@sueryder.org or call 0808 164 4572.

Please let them know the Peterborough Starlight Hike has been cancelled due to high winds.

At a time when more people than ever need our care and our operational costs are rising, we rely on the generous support of our local communities more than ever. We hope they’ll still honour your match funding, and we’re happy to support any follow-up required.

Please get in touch with our Community Fundraising Team by emailing thorpe.fundraising@sueryder.org if we can support with this.

All tickets will be automatically refunded through Eventbrite to the person who purchased the tickets.

Please allow up to 10 business days to receive your refund. If you have any questions, please contact supportercare@sueryder.org or call 0808 164 4572.

No – please keep it! You can wear it if you carry out your own Starlight Hike or join another hike this year or in the future.

Absolutely. We encourage you to do your own Starlight Hike this October.

Pick a date, choose a 5k or 10k route and walk with friends or family in a location that’s meaningful to you or your loved one.

Do Your Own Starlight Hike Guide

If you’d like any support with your Starlight Hike, please contact us at thorpe.fundraising@sueryder.org. Please let us know if you do your own Starlight Hike, as we’d love to hear all about it and can send you your medal in the post!

Unfortunately, we’re unable to cover travel costs for participants choosing to attend an alternative event.

We recommend letting them know the Peterborough event was cancelled due to severe weather.

If you’re doing another event or your own hike, ask if they’re happy for their donation to still go to Sue Ryder.

If anyone would prefer a refund, please email supportercare@sueryder.org or call 0808 164 4572.

Losing Starlight Hike Peterborough for the second-year running is a huge financial blow.

Your support now can help us continue to be there when it matters. If you can, please consider making a donation.

We’re so grateful to you for wanting to change your registration fee to a donation to Sue Ryder.

We use a third-party platform to manage registrations and payments, and to keep things simple and consistent for everyone, refunds are processed automatically when certain conditions are met.

Unfortunately, this means we’re not able to override the system to retain individual fees as donations. If you'd still like to make a donation or donate your registration fee back to us, you can do so online.

Cancelling Starlight Hike is an extreme and last resort for us, and it is unprecedented for us to be forced to cancel two events running at the same location.

Moving forward, we’ll be reflecting carefully on all aspects of the event including the timing and location. We want time to explore our options for Starlight Hike 2026 and therefore cannot transfer participants over to a future event at the moment.

Yes, donations made on JustGiving will automatically be received by Sue Ryder.

If any of your supporters who donated to your JustGiving page would like a refund, please contact our Supporter Care team on supportercare@sueryder.org or call 0808 164 4572, who will be able to help.