Our beloved Hartley mascot is preparing to return with Oldham Athletic AFC’s Chaddy the Owl for a hero-themed adventure.
Hartley’s Hero Walk with Oldham Athletic AFC
Dr Kershaw’s’ mascot and Oldham Athletic AFC’s Chaddy the Owl are busy preparing to return for an exciting fundraising adventure. More details on our 2027 Hartley’s Hero Walk will be announced soon.
Please note that our planned event on Friday 6 November has been cancelled so we can ensure that our little heroes have the best experience possible. Thank you to everyone who bought a ticket, and you will be contacted regarding a refund.
What is Hartley’s Hero Walk?
Hartley’s Hero Walk is a glow-in-the-dark mission for children, created to inspire young heroes to raise money to support of the amazing work of Dr Kershaw’s Hospice and Oldham Athletic Community Trust. Our last Hartley’s Hero Walk raised over £15,000!
Our February 2026 hero-themed challenge invited children to complete five laps of the football pitch inside the football stadium at Boundary Park, which is the equivalent of one mile. There was also the option to dress as a favourite hero, whether that is a Hollywood superhero, doctor, athlete, author, teacher or family member.
Along with a Heroes Hub, we had lots of fun activities, with each child awarded a medal and two free tickets to an Oldham Athletic game upon completion. The next event is still top secret, so you will have to wait to find out more!
What is included in the ticket?
A very special shoutout to our superhero, Ethan!
Ethan Beveridge went above and beyond for our February 2026 Hartley’s Hero Walk, raising an incredible £620 – the highest of all our amazing heroes!
As a thank you, Ethan and his family were invited back to Boundary Park, where he was presented with a squadsigned Oldham Athletic shirt on the pitch before kick-off – just before Oldham’s 1–0 win over Grimsby!
Frequently Asked Questions
For little heroes, on-the-day signup is not available as tickets are limited. Please buy your tickets ahead of the event to avoid disappointment. However, additional adults will be able to pay on the day.
The address for Oldham Athletic is Boundary Park, off Hilbre Ave, Oldham OL2 5BL.
By car: There is free parking onsite or charged parking available nearby at Sheepfoot Lane or the Royal Oldham Hospital.
By train: The nearest railway station is Mills Hill, which is around a 50-minute walk to Boundary Park.
By tram: Westwood and Oldham King Street are the closest stops to the ground, with both Metrolink stops being around a 20-minute walk away.
Park and ride: You can leave your car at a Park and Ride site before completing your journey on Metrolink. Park and Ride sites include Oldham Mumps, Manchester Piccadilly and Rochdale Railway Station.
By bus: The Bee Network operates a range of services to nearby sites. These include the 149 and 159 for Sheepfoot Lane and 181, 182, 183, 402 and 409 to Royal Oldham Hospital.
All recommendations are for guidance only, please check the travel operators’ websites before visiting.
The event doors will open at 5pm and the walk will have two starting waves of 6pm and 7pm. Please select your preferred start time when booking your tickets. We recommend arriving early to enjoy the refreshments, entertainment and games at our Heroes Hub!
You don’t need a costume to join in – every superhero will receive a Dr Kershaw’s cape in the post as part of their fundraising pack! You can wear it if you like, but we also welcome any fancy dress if you have a favourite hero you would love to represent. Just like our nurses and doctors, not all heroes wear capes!
Remember: comfy shoes, warm layers, and waterproofs are essential. The weather sometimes tries to be the villain in our story!
The entry fee covers the costs of running this event, but it’s your fundraising money that will make a super heroic difference! We are asking you to aim to raise £40 per participating child in support of the amazing work of Dr Kershaw’s Hospice and Oldham Athletic Community Trust.
Your super hero efforts mean the world to us. We kindly ask that you bring your sponsorship money on the night of the event, to the Hospice after the event, or pay it in online with the reference ‘Hartley’s Hero Sponsorship’.
Wheelchair users are welcome to take part. Please note that some areas of the stadium have limited accessibility, so the mission will follow an adjusted route. If you have any access needs, please let us know how we can support you by emailing fundraising@drkh.org.uk.
Wherever possible, we would advise that you avoid bringing a pram.
Scooters and bikes are not permitted.
Unfortunately Hartley is the only dog permitted at the event for health and safety reasons.
Details
WHEN:
TBC 2027With support from
Order your tickets
Feeling up to the challenge? Book your tickets and join us for an evening of hero-themed fun.
Dr Kershaw’s, in collaboration with Oldham Athletic Community Trust, will host Hartley’s Hero Walk to raise funds for Dr Kershaw’s Hospice, a charity (Charity Number 1105924) whose registered office is at Dr Kershaw’s Hospice, Turf Lane, Royton, Oldham, OL2 6EU (“Dr Kershaw’s”). By agreeing to participate in this event you accept there are certain terms and conditions to participation set by Dr Kershaw’s which are set out in full below: –
The following are Dr Kershaw’s conditions of entry to the Event and terms of participation in the Event: –
- Everyone taking part in this event must have a valid ticket purchased on Dr Kershaws’s Hospice website.
- You are participating in an event and it is not without risk. You must ensure that you are in a suitable physical condition to undertake the challenge and therefore take part entirely at your own risk. The outline itinerary for the event must be accepted as an indication of the event and not a contractual obligation on Dr Kershaw’s part. It is a condition of joining the event that you accept this flexibility and acknowledge that any alterations that results in delays, discomfort, disappointment or inconvenience are possible. By accepting these booking conditions you agree to indemnify Dr Kershaw’s against claims for loss or damage to personal property and for loss or claims arising from your own actions.
- It is your responsibility to check dietary requirements at the event.
- If for any reason you or your guests are not able to take part in this event, your tickets will not be refunded.
- Dr Kershaw’s has no responsibility to ensure that you are fit for this walk; you must ensure that you have the appropriate level of fitness to participate in this event. You must confirm that, to the best of your knowledge, you are currently in a good state of health and that you will not take part unless you are in a good state of health at the time. If you have any health concerns at any time about taking part, you should speak to your doctor.
- You / your guests are all taking part in the event at your own risk. Dr Kershaw’s will not have responsibility for any risk, loss or costs which you incur in connection with the event and you will indemnify Dr Kershaw’s and any persons acting on their behalf for any risk, damages, loss or costs arising as a result of your participation in the event.
- Any arrangements you make independently which do not form part of the event are entirely at your own risk.
- Dr Kershaw’s do not accept responsibility in respect of death, bodily injury or illness of any person on one of our events as a result of (but not limited to) physical exertion for which a participant is not prepared, force of nature, consumption of alcohol, civil unrest, terrorism, breakdown of equipment or any other beyond our control.
- You / your guests must provide Dr Kershaw’s and any persons acting on their behalf with information, which they may request in connection with the event.
- You confirm that any photographs that you share publicly and/or with Dr Kershaw’s will be usable by Dr Kershaw’s on the social media platform that you shared the photograph on.
- Photography and/or videography will be taking place at this event. Images and footage may be used for promotional and marketing purposes on social media and in printed materials. This may be shared with trusted third parties (e.g. local newspapers and Dr Kershaw’s Hospice).If you prefer not to be photographed or filmed, please speak to the event photographer or a volunteer and they will endeavour to avoid you being included in any media. Our lawful basis for processing is legitimate interest under the UK GDPR.
- Personal data may be shared with Oldham Athletic Community Trust solely for the purposes of planning, managing, delivering, and evaluating the organised event. This includes:
- Attendee registration and communications
- Venue, logistics, and safety management
- Post-event feedback and reporting
Personal data will not be shared with Oldham Athletic Community Trust for marketing purposes. Each party remains independently responsible for meeting its own obligations under GDPR.
- Prior to and during the event you / your guests will be responsible for your own safety, you will take reasonable care to ensure the safety of other participants and you will comply promptly with all instructions and guidelines given by Dr Kershaw’s and any persons acting on their behalf.
14. You / your guests understand that the interests and reputation of Dr Kershaw’s are of paramount importance. Dr Kershaw’s may at any time and at its sole discretion, cancel the event, change the content, withdraw your place on the event or exclude you from the event.
15. If cancellation occurs due to unusual and unforeseeable circumstances beyond our control, such as a national emergency, natural disaster, fire, bad weather, or other such events (acts of force majeure), then we will advise you as soon as it is reasonable to do so.
16. Dr Kershaw’s Hospice is committed to keeping your data safe. For more information on how we process your personal data, please see our Privacy Policy.