St Elizabeth Hospice’s high-profile ladies-only fundraising Midnight Walk is to break new ground by allowing men to take part next year.
The Midnight Walk 2013 will also offer a night-time run through Ipswich town centre.
The new twists will be put in place to ensure the event – which is the charity’s biggest fundraiser of the year and will be held on Saturday 18th May 2013 – maintains its popularity.
Registration is now open for the Midnight Walk 2013 – and you can save £5 if
you sign up using the early bird offer, before midnight on December
31st.
To take advantage of the online early bird offer click here.
The ladies-only Midnight Walk – which is a night-time circular walk starting and finishing at Ipswich Town Football Club – is an annual event which started in 2008.
In 2009 around 2,500 women took part raising £230,000 for the Hospice.
In the last few years many men who have had a friend or relative cared for at the Hospice have asked to take part in memory of their loved one. But organisers have not been able to let them, as the Midnight Walk was a women-only event.
Alison Lanchester, the hospice’s Director of Income Generation and Marketing, said now is the time to revamp the Midnight Walk so it appeals to more people – men and women and those who wish to walk or run.
She said: “St Elizabeth Hospice’s Midnight Walk is our most popular sponsored event and the money it raises to fund our services, so they can be provided free of charge, is vital.
“Now is the time to refresh it and ensure it appeals to as many people as possible. We have not taken this decision lightly. We hope women who have taken part year after year will be reassured that the unique atmosphere of this mass participation event will remain intact. They can choose to walk with other women – or invite their husbands, fathers, brothers and male friends to unite with them – running or walking for such a worthwhile cause.”
There will be two routes to choose from – eight or five miles – a carnival theme, exciting warm-up and a hot chocolate and medal at the end for all participants.
Many people take part in groups as a fitness challenge, in memory of a loved one or just to have fun night out. The Midnight Walk 2013 offers the only opportunity to take part in mass participation run at night around Ipswich.
All participants are asked to raise sponsorship.
St Elizabeth Hospice will be the first charity in East Anglia to open its women-only event up to men.
Midnight Walk 2013 is supported by the East Anglian Daily Times, Ipswich Star and Town 102