Sheffield Hospitals Charity and Meadowhall have announced the return of the Red Shoe Walk for 2026, following a highly successful debut last year that brought hundreds of people together and raised more than £10,000. The community event will take place on Sunday, August 2, and will once again see families and friends walk a family-friendly route around Meadowhall to raise vital funds for people living with dementia across Sheffield.
Event Host and Personal Connection
This year's event will be hosted by BBC Radio Sheffield presenter Ellie Colton, who will lead the day's celebrations and inspire walkers as they come together. Ellie's own family has been affected by Alzheimer's disease. She shared: "My dad was diagnosed with Young Onset Alzheimer's disease last year at the age of just 59. This diagnosis was never something we expected to deal with, let alone at such a young age. It has been incredibly hard and isolating at times, so I knew I had to take part in this event."
Inspiration Behind the Walk
The walk is inspired by one woman with dementia's lifelong love of red shoes, a simple memory trigger that helps her connect with her past. The event is designed to bring everyone together to reflect and connect, all while raising funds for dementia care. The colour red is unique in increasing brain wave activity in people with dementia, easily catching their attention and even helping to stimulate appetite through to the late stages.
How to Participate
Participants are encouraged to wear their brightest red shoes or pick up a free pair of red shoe covers on the day to show their support. Early bird tickets cost £5 per adult and £3 per child, with under 3s going free, or £14 for a family of four. Each ticket includes an exclusive Red Shoe Walk t-shirt, access to exclusive discounts at participating Meadowhall retailers, and free rides at the Summer Beach Club after the walk.
Community Impact
Ellie Colton added: "I am proud to host the Red Shoe Walk this year and walk it with my parents. As a family, we are so proud of my dad for accepting this diagnosis with such grace and continuing to live every single day to the fullest. It is so important that we all come together to raise money and awareness to support those affected and their families as much as possible. We can't wait to see you on the day, and all walk together as one community."
Beth Crackles, CEO of Sheffield Hospitals Charity, said: "We're thrilled with how the first-ever Red Shoe Walk brought our community together in solidarity and are beyond excited to bring it back for 2026. Our friends at Meadowhall are as determined as we are to make it even bigger and better this year. We hope to see you all there, walking together as a community to make a real difference for people living with dementia and their loved ones."
Darren Pearce, centre director at Meadowhall, commented: "Dementia touches the lives of so many families across our local community, and we're incredibly proud to be working with Sheffield Hospitals Charity to host the Red Shoe Walk for a second time. Building on the success of last year's event, which raised more than £10,000 for the charity, it's great to be welcoming much-loved BBC Radio Sheffield presenter Ellie Colton as host. Like so many across the city, Ellie has a personal tie to the event, and we hope people will once again come together for a fun-filled day out whilst helping to raise vital funds for those affected by dementia throughout the city."
The Red Shoe Walk is open to everyone and offers a chance to be part of something truly meaningful, showing that every step tells a story. To find out more and book your place before registration closes, visit sheffieldhospitalscharity.org.uk/get-involved/events/red-shoe-walk.
