AND THEY’RE OFF! Little legs took some big steps for charity as kids all over the country ran, walked and toddled in the annual Big Toddle for Barnardos.
The event is a half-mile sponsored walk for crèche and pre-school- children — and over the past 19 years thousands of them have clocked up more than 306,784 miles for the charity, raising €4.2million to support the Barnardos Early Years services.
The theme for 2022 is Big Toddle Little Heroes and the kids from Glanmire Childcare in Glanmire, Co Cork and Precious Minds Creche & Montessori in Lucan, Dublin, took the mission seriously.
Sporting their favourite superhero costumes, they pounded the pathways and pavements to help raise funds for children in need, proving you are never too young to help care for somebody else.
The Irish Sun caught up with some of these little stars to find out about their own superheroes and how they would change the world to make it better for others if they had a special power.
Alex, dressed as Spider-Man, told us he would love to be able to shoot spidey webs while Cameron, AKA Captain America, wanted to save the day by fighting baddie Red Skull.
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SuperWoman Aria wanted rainbow powers and Jacob, another Spider-Man, was busy helping people to walk on the path with his super speed.
Barnardos fundraising director Mary Gamble said: “Barnardos has worked with children and families in Ireland for 60 years to transform the lives of vulnerable children, because childhood lasts a lifetime.
“We know that as a result of the cost-of-living increases the families we support are under more pressure than ever before.
“This is why this year’s Big Toddle is so important.
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“We are so grateful to The Irish Sun for their support again this year in hosting this wonderful art competition.
“We are really excited to see the entries.”
Kieran McDaid, Editor of the Irish Sun, added: “It’s a huge honour to continue our partnership with Barnardos and once again give the children of Ireland the opportunity to show us their huge talent, while at the same time helping those who need it most.
“I’m really looking forward to seeing what this year’s bunch of entries have to offer, espeically with the additional video element.”
Barnardos provides frontline services to children and their families who are affected by traumatic life situations such as poverty, abuse, parental mental health challenges, neglect, separation, bereavement and parental addiction.
The charity offers a range of early intervention and targeted services in our 45 service locations, in family homes, schools, early learning and care settings and communities.
For information or to donate toward the ongoing work of Barnardos, visit barnardos.ie.
ART AND SOUL WITH THE IRISH SUN
THE Irish Sun and Barnardos have teamed up again this year to help raise awareness of, and support for, the charity’s amazing work nationwide.
Your Little Heroes can enter the annual Barnardos/Irish Sun Big Toddle Colour-ing Competition, running in tandem with the charity walk.
We are calling on all budding artists to draw and colour their own picture of what it means to them to be a Little Hero. The theme shines a light on children helping others – being kind, helpful and thought-ful. It is a reminder that all children have the superpower to be a Little Hero.
To accompany the picture we would like each child to send us a short video (taken on a phone in landscape view) explaining what their creation is about, and why it shows a Little Hero in action.
The winner will win a gorgeous Avery bunk bed – courtesy of Harvey Norman – which is the perfect place to relax and allow little minds a chance to dream big.
To enter, email us your picture by sending a PDF or photo, along with the video explaining the story behind it, to features@the-sun.ie Or send your entry by post to: The Irish Sun, Big Toddle Colouring Competition, The Water-marque Building, Ringsend Road, Dublin 4, D04 K7N3. But don’t forget the video – only entries with one can the win top prize.
Your competition entry should not be smaller than A4 or larger than A2. You may use any type of paper or materials such as crayons, pencils, markers, paints of any type, or pen and ink. Closing date for entries is Friday July 1 at 5pm. Find the details on thesun.ie too.
T&CS
T&Cs: Prizes are as stated and are non-exchangeable and non-transferable. There is no cash or alternative to the prizes in whole or in part. The winner will be notified within 14 days after the end of the competition and they need to confirm acceptance of the applicable prize within seven days of having been notified. Prizes will be delivered within 28 days of acceptance. Competition organisers’ decisions are final. See newsprivacy.co.uk for further information on how we process personal data. Barnardos Registered Charity Number 20010027 and CHY6015. The competition is open to children aged ten and under as of June 30 2022. Barnardos will select the winners. By entering you consent to The Irish Sun and Wireless radio stations (FM104, C103, Q102, Cork 96FM, Live 95 FM and LMFM) publishing and broadcasting on their respective newspaper, radio and online platforms any image(s) of the entrant, and/or any video recording(s) (or extract(s)/still(s) of that recording) of the entrant talking about their sub-mission, submitted in connection with that artwork. Such consent may be withdrawn by a parent/guardian (who may also request deletion of the material) using the compe-tition contact details. Publication of the material will be for purposes solely relating to the Barnardos Big Toddle and for a period of up to 21 days after publication by The Irish Sun of the winners after which time the material will be deleted. No publication will occur after that date. The material will be shared with Barnardos in connection with selecting a winner and the charity will delete the material 21 days after publication by the newspaper of the winners.