Sunday 14th September 2025

Rain and Shine for Shani

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Despite the worrying wet weather warnings, 125 Pulse Challenge participants warmed up to be part of a very special day. Walkers of all ages joined Shine for Shani's fourth sponsored walk on Sunday 14 September, treading the streets, paths and fields between Great Ormond Street Hospital and Borehamwood to raise money for seriously ill children.

The charity, set up in memory of Shani Berman who died in 2017 following complex heart surgery, fundraises to help improve the life chances of children with serious heart conditions. The Trustees are delighted to announce that this event raised over £38,000 which will go towards their latest fundraising efforts to upgrade the paediatric cardiac theatres at Great Ormond Street Hospital to new state-of-the-art integrated laparoscopic technology which will improve patient care, streamline workflows and enhance surgical visualization to improve safety and outcomes. 

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Shani's mother Juliet explains that "Shani underwent two open heart surgeries at GOSH in her short life and so we know how valuable these amazing theatres will be to other children with heart defects."

The first group of walkers set out for a marathon walk inspired by words of encouragement from Simon Berman as he told the participants "when it rains we look for rainbows" and the rain that fell later in the day certainly did not dampen any spirits.

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Participants took a scenic route to Tower Bridge, past the London Eye and Buckingham Palace, before heading through Piccadilly Circus and out towards Regents Park. 

Along the way a huge team of volunteer marshals in pretty pink t-shirts offered encouragement and refreshments. At 13 miles more walkers joined the group and strode on through Hampstead Heath and into Golders Hill Park. Finally at 5.75 miles – a distance chosen to symbolically reflect how old Shani was in years when she died, the rest of the participants joined in, including many families and a few brave runners. 

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All the participants crossed the rainbow coloured balloon arch finish line at Borehamwood Synagogue and were greeted with cheers, medals and a well-deserved cup of tea!

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Juliet says "we are so grateful to everyone who walked, marshalled and donated. The Pulse Challenge is more than about the money we raise, it is about how loved and missed Shani is and the community spirit that comes from people of all ages exercising, fundraising and smiling together."