For Abu Idris’ family, the HHUGS Winter Walk has become a yearly tradition.
The first year he signed up for it, he and his father-in-law made a pact that they’d do it together. But sadly, his father-in-law passed away before they could.
So the following year, in his father-in-law’s memory, Abu Idris did the Winter Walk with his entire family. And as the family grows and welcomes more spouses, in-laws and children, the Walk has become one of the few things that brings them together every single year.
With Abu Idris’ children also walking in tow, they now have three generations of one family proudly walking together in support of HHUGS’ beneficiaries.
“There’s no other reason we’d be walking around a park in the freezing cold. But we do it for the families. Any way we can raise awareness, any way we can raise money to help these families: we’re going to do it. It’s the least we can do. These families need to know that they are supported, they are thought about and they are cared for.” – Abu Idris
Join Abu Idris in helping vulnerable families survive the winter
Walking in their Shoes raises money to help keep families affected by UK terror legislation safe, warm and alive through the gruelling British winter.
We’re asking you to show up and demonstrate your support for HHUGS families by joining us on this 5-mile walk through London’s stunning Hyde Park or, if you’re up north, in Yorkshire’s Otley Chevin Forest Park.
We’re asking you to brave the cold and spend just one Sunday standing shoulder-to-shoulder with traumatised families who need to know you care about their plight.
Not only will you gain the reward of giving your energy and wealth to charity – but, if you bring your spouse and children along, you’ll also gain the reward of spending quality time with your family.
Covering 350 acres and with over 4,000 trees, a large lake, a meadow and ornamental flower gardens, Hyde Park is the perfect place for a fun-filled family day out.
Sign up to do the Winter Walk now
Be the shining light in someone’s darkest days
Winter is the most difficult time of year for our beneficiary families. With their breadwinner imprisoned (usually far from home), single mothers and elderly parents are forced to cut costs.
When there isn’t enough money to go around, the first thing to go is heating and food.
With the UK facing what’s expected to be the harshest winter in decades, we can’t let our families deal with this alone. That’s why every year we invite you to do our sponsored walk.
With your help,we can raise vital funds and provide our families with food vouchers, warm clothing, heating and rent support that will keep them safe during winter.
Over the past five years, our Winter Walks have:
- Provided warm clothing for hundreds of children who’ve lost their fathers to prison
- Provided duvets and blankets to protect families from the unrelenting cold
- Covered gas and heating bills for families unable to keep themselves warm
- Saved families from eviction in winter by covering their rent
“HHUGS helped me with rent payments, without which we would be homeless. They paid for food and winter clothing. I had so much debt when I contacted HHUGS but they helped me pay off my rent arrears, my water bill and my council tax arrears, which lifted a huge burden off my shoulders.” – HHUGS Beneficiary
How do I sign up?
If you’re ready to stand up and walk 5 miles for HHUGS families, you need to:
- Register here and pay the required fees for participants over three years old (all funds go to supporting HHUGS families).
- Fundraise a minimum of £150 (or £100 if you’re coming to our Yorkshire walk) so you can help keep our families warm
- Get your walking boots on and be at Hyde Park on Sunday 9th February at 11am or Otley Chevin Forest Park on Saturday 21st February. (We’ll give you more details once you’ve registered).
It’s important that we rise and show HHUGS families they aren’t alone. We need to do everything possible to ease their hardship, and bring warmth to their broken homes.
Your fundraising could save a family from eviction, protect a child from the cold, or help an elderly aunty afford heating through the winter months.
“Any one of us could be in the situation that HHUGS families are in. We look at countries like Yemen and Syria who, once upon a time, were thriving just like we’re thriving here in this country. Once upon a time, they were a people giving charity, and now they are a people in need of charity. So why could that not be us tomorrow?
“Today, we are able to help people, so insha Allah, tomorrow Allah will help us in our time of need.” – Abu Idris