Over 300 people walked 16 miles across the Kent coast in bright pink raising over £17,000 in memory of local teen.
On 5th September, over 300 people walked between Hythe and Folkestone, and back again, to fund training for children’s NHS healthcare heroes in memory of Evie Dove
On Saturday 5th September 2026, over 300 people wearing pink t-shirts brightened up the Kent coast walking 16 miles in memory of 13-year-old Evie Dove, from Worth, near Sandwich. Together, Kent supporters raised over £17,000, which the Foundation expects to fund training for at least 10 more NHS healthcare professionals who work with children.
Participants in the Big Coastal Walk covered the 16-mile route from Hythe to Folkestone and back, while others joined the shorter 3-mile Little Canal Walk. Both walks started from Unit 1, Riverside Craft Centre, in West Hythe, near the Royal Military Canal.
Among the walkers was Cuba Parris, who carried out Evie’s clinical observations while she was undergoing treatment at The Royal Marsden Hospital and the pair bonded over their shared love of fashion, dogs, and life. Following Evie’s death from a brain tumour in 2022, her family and friends set up The Evie Dove Foundation, and the trustees chose to fund Cuba’s training as their first grant, in recognition of the compassion and care he had shown Evie.
The funding enabled Cuba to complete his degree in Medicine, which he graduated from this summer. He has since started his two-year foundation training placement at Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals in South West London.
“I always join The Big Coastal Walk as it’s such a special way to remember Evie, support the Foundation, and to help raise funds for my fellow colleagues,” said Cuba Parris. “When I found out that I was going to be the first person to receive the grant, it felt like a weight had been lifted. It was a childhood dream of mine to become a doctor, and after meeting patients like Evie I knew this was the path for me. Now that I’ve qualified, I can’t wait to start working with more patients.”
“Every year we are astounded by how much people embrace this event,” said Matthew Paxton, Trustee of The Evie Dove Foundation. “It means so much to us to have the local community behind us as we drive change throughout paediatric care in the UK. To hear people saying Evie’s name, wearing the bright pink t-shirts, and laughing, is just so special. She always loved the sea, and we’re so proud to remember her in this way.”
This year’s event was also attended by Dickie Mackness, 64, from Gloucestershire, who has now walked over 4,000 miles across the UK for the Foundation. Dickie completed his original 3,600-mile challenge last year, but chose to keep walking to continue supporting the Foundation by raising awareness and funds. He has raised over £16,000 to date.
Additional satellite walks took place over the weekend in the Midlands, Cyprus and Portsmouth, bringing the fundraising total to £24,774.
Thanks to generous support from headline sponsor Unit 1, alongside SAGA, The Pilot, Hawkinge Lidl, and The Roger De Haan Charitable Trust, The Shoreline, alongside our volunteers, the event was cost-neutral, ensuring every penny raised goes directly to funding training for paediatric healthcare professionals.
