Springhill Hospice Midnight Walk 2010

Midnight Walk in support of Springhill Hospice

Springhill Hospice’s fourth ladies-only Midnight Walk, sponsored by the Impact Partnership and again supported by Middleton Round Table, Link4Life and the UK Training and Fitness Academy, is a 6 or 13 mile, fully marshalled walk, commencing from Middleton Arena on the stroke of midnight on Saturday 17 July.

The full route takes walkers through Middleton, Rhodes, Bowlee, Hopwood, Heywood, (with a halfway stop at Heywood Civic Centre), Sudden, Castleton, Slattocks returning via Middleton Town Centre to the Arena. Participants walking the shorter route finish at Heywood Civic Centre where a minibus returns them to Middleton Arena.

Entry fee for the event is just £10 and all participants will receive a unique Midnight Walk t-shirt, medal, refreshments and a Certificate of Achievement.

Over the last three years the event has established itself as the biggest single fundraising event organised by the Hospice, which provides vital care for people living with life-limiting illnesses across the Rochdale Borough as well as in parts of Oldham, North Manchester and the Rossendale Valley.

Ian Jenkins, Fundraising Manager at Springhill Hospice, says “One of the issues we have to consider for this event is the safety of the ladies as they walk the route through the middle of the night. I’m delighted to be able to say that we have always received great feedback from the participants. We advise them to walk in groups and we always provide plenty of both static and mobile marshals all along the route to give encouragement and support. The Police and St John’s Ambulance also attend and the atmosphere has always been one of good fun, great banter and the knowledge that it’s all for a great cause.”

To assist with the operation of this event, Springhill Hospice are also looking for men to get involved as stewards and volunteers – so if husbands, boyfriends or male relatives would like to help out, the organisers would be delighted to hear from you too!

Anybody wishing to participate in the Midnight Walk can contact the Fundraising team on 01706 649920, download the double-sided registration form from www.springhill.org.uk/documents/MWalkRegFormOuter.pdf and www.springhill.org.uk/documents/MWalkRegFormInner.pdf or collect one from Springhill Hospice, Broad Lane, Rochdale OL16 4PZ.

Organisers are hoping that this event will raise enough money to at least cover one week’s running costs of the Hospice, which currently stand at around £52,000. For further information, the Hospice Fundraising Office can be contacted by telephone on 01706 649920 or by email at fundraising@springhillhospice.nhs.uk