Jerry Doyle, head of fundraising at St Wilfrid’s Hospice, is urging supporters to get in their stride to help raise £100,000.
She was speaking after it was announced that the annual Moonlight Walk will take place on Saturday May 5 on what will be the tenth anniversary of the event.
And Jerry and the hospice team are looking for support to make this a recording breaking year, by recruiting over 1,000 walkers and trying to raise the six-figure sum.
To help to put a spring in your step, St Wilfrid’s is also giving one free entry when 10 people or more register for the five-mile or ten-mile sponsored moonlit route around Chichester.
She said: “The Moonlight Walk has always been one of the most moving and uplifting events organised by St Wilfrid’s. It has a joyous atmosphere, with participants using the event as an opportunity to remember loved ones and help raise vital funds for the Hospice.
“We want to make sure this year is an extra special, fun packed event to show our appreciation to everyone who has supported it over the years. What better way to top off the celebrations than for us all to succeed in making the night a record breaker! So, let’s hit all the zeros, with 1,000 people, raising £100,000.”
Anyone over the age of 12 can take part. Entry costs £16, and it is hoped that an additional £60 per person will be raised in sponsorship. All participants will receive a t-shirt and a snack breakfast.
*St Wilfrid’s Hospice provides tailored end of life care both in the community and at the Hospice, supporting patients living with a terminal illness, and their family and friends.
The vital services are all provided free of charge, thanks to the support of fundraisers and donors. Only 15 per cent of the running costs are currently met by the NHS and they rely on the community to fund the remainder, which equates to just over £7.5 million each year.