The Irish Sun recently teamed up with Irish children’s charity Barnardos to host the first ever Big Toddle Family Fun Day in Dublin’s Airfield Estate. Over 550 people flocked to the beautiful park in South Dublin to celebrate 21 years of Barnardos’ Big Toddle campaign and to raise much needed funds for the charity.

Kids had a blast at the event which included outdoor fun and games, arts and crafts, face painting, a magic show and the Big Toddle walk. Big Toddle mascot Buddy led the way with families joining along in the charity walk, while well-known radio presenter Aidan Cooney and the Blue Crew from Dublin’s Q102 kept the tunes pumping and the atmosphere electric.

Irish Sun volunteers manned the Arts and Crafts zone, where budding artists had the chance to colour a picture and enter the Big Toddle Art Competition sponsored by Sunway Holidays. The grand prize for the art competition will see a family of four (two adults and two children 12 and under) win an Enchanted Escape Sunway Package to Lapland where they can visit Santa and indulge in magical Christmas fun.

Mary Gamble, Barnardos Director of Fundraising, said: “Over the last 21 years, our Big Toddle campaign has raised just under €4.7million, funds that support Barnardos’ Early Years services. Big Toddle is our largest annual fundraising campaign and definitely our most adorable. Never mind Christmas, Toddle time is our most wonderful time of year!

Our Fun Day, in partnership with The Irish Sun, is not just about a really fun day out for all the family – it is a celebration of all our littlest fundraisers over the years.”

Irish Sun Editor Fiona Wynne added: “It’s a privilege to team up with Barnardos once again on our most popular and adorable campaign of the year.”