By Rachael Grealish

The CKDCF 21st birthday weekend is fast approaching, so here is all you need to know from event ticket prices to charity walk details.

After several years on hiatus due to the COVID pandemic, the CKDCF and its founder, the 80’s hit singer Francis Dunnery, are back for 2023 to bring charity and music together for the charity’s 21st weekend.

Over the weekend of Friday, October 13, and Saturday, October 14, several events will take place, from a welcome dinner, a charity walk and a final concert.

Speaking to The Herdwick News, Francis Dunnery said he was ‘proud as punch’ the CKDCF has raised hundreds of thousands and said it’s a ‘joy’ to be returning for the weekend.

He said: “The CKDCF has been the cornerstone of my UK visits over the past 21 years. I am absolutely as proud as punch that along with my friends at the charity we have raised over £300,000 pounds for the local community.

“It’s a joy to come back each year and visit the sheer beauty and majesty of my birthplace. Cumbria is literally the most beautiful place in the world. I’ve been everywhere and nothing compares to Cumbria.”

What Is The CKDCF?

The CKDCF is the Charlie and Kathleen Dunnery Children’s Fund, named for the founder, Francis Dunnery’s, parents. It started back in 2002 when the former It Bites frontman wanted to honour both his parents, Charlie and Kathleen, with the sole aim of raising funds for children’s health, wellness and educational needs in and around his hometown of Egremont, Cumbria.

Since then the charity has raised over £300,000 to help children by purchasing hospital beds and entertainment units for children’s oncology wards, constructing libraries, building gardens, purchasing educational supplies for local schools in Cumbria, and much more.

CKDCF fundraising is now centred around one main event, which takes place annually in Egremont – the hometown of Francis and his family. In previous years the event weekend has also attracted the interest of rock stars such as Robert Plant – who performed with Francis in 2015.

CKDCF Charity Weekend Events:

People from all over the world are expected to arrive and enjoy the three events taking place over the weekend. The events are:

Friday night dinner and entertainment

• Taking place at the Seacote Hotel, in St Bees, the Friday night welcome dinner is a buffet dinner with entertainment provided by musical artists.

Saturday morning sponsored walk

• The sponsored charity walk takes place at Loweswater – one of the smallest lakes to be found in the Lake District – with a route that is accessible for all, including wheelchairs and pushchairs, being flat and only 4km around.

Saturday night charity concert

• The weekend is topped off with the Saturday night charity concert at the Egremont Market Hall, which will feature a host of musical acts, including a 90-minute set by Francis Dunnery himself. Other artists performing including, Eric and the Ogres bluegrass, Super talented Danny Dunnery, Stephen Harris, The drums of Mark Hunter, Deanne Blazey, Quint Starkie, Simon Betts, Buzz Elliot, Simon Rogers and John Paul.

CKDCF Tickets And Prices:

While the charity-sponsored walk is free to attend and take part in, both evening events are ticketed with proceeds going to the charity

Tickets for the Friday night welcome dinner are £33.75 and can be purchased HERE.

Tickets for the Saturday night charity concert are £33.75 and can be purchased HERE.

Getting There:

Friday night dinner and entertainment

The Friday event takes place at the Seacote Hotel, St Bees, CA27 0ET. The main route used is the M6. Exit at junction 40 (Penrith), joining the A66 (Kewsick – Cockermouth) and from there onto the A595 (Whitehaven – Egremont). Once on the A595, bypass Whitehaven Town Centre. You can then follow the signs for St. Bees. If you leave at junction 36 on the motorway, please be aware that this is a smaller and rather winding road, so although a shorter distance, it may take you longer.

If travelling by public transport, St Bees has a railway station within easy walking distance. St Bees is on the Northern Rail Carlisle to Barrow coastal line. Trains come in roughly every hour. If coming from further afield you would need to change onto this line. There are currently no bus services in to any of the parks. There are many taxi firms which you could utilise.

Saturday morning sponsored walk

The sponsored walk takes place at Loweswater Lake. There is no public transport to start of the route. Car: B5292 from Cockermouth and B5289 through Low Lorton. Follow signs for Loweswater and turn right (grid ref. NY 138211), not signposted for Maggie’s Bridge. Parking at the Maggie’s Bridge car park is limited and can become very busy.

Saturday night charity concert

The Saturday charity concert takes place at Egremont Market Hall, Market Street, Egremont, United Kingdom, CA22 2DF. To get there, from Carlisle take the A595 to Cockermouth, go through Cockermouth heading for Egremont. From Penrith, take the A66 towards Keswick, then onto Cockermouth. Turn left at the main roundabout, signposted A5086 to Egremont.

Parking is available at Ehen Court Road, Egremont CA22 2DX.