Join hundreds of ladies for a night out in aid of local hospice
Hundreds of women have now signed up to take part in St Nicholas Hospice Care’s Girls Night Out charity walk, but organisers are calling for more to join them.
The annual event, sponsored by wealth managers J M Finn, will see women wear pyjamas and flashing bunny ears to walk either 11.2 or six miles around Bury St Edmunds.
With four months to go until this year’s walk, on Saturday, September 14, more than 700 women have already registered.
There has never been a better time to sign up, because all entries received by Friday, May 31, will qualify for a special reduced early bird registration offer of £10 (all entries received after this date will cost £15).
Julie Elder of Thetford, has walked nearly every year since the event began in 2009 and she is set to walk again this year in memory of her mum, Margaret, who spent her last days in the hospice.
Julie said: “I think Girls Night Out is amazing with the pink bunny ears glowing up and helping you find your way. The walk is very well organised and when you walk through the town, the residents come out of their houses, cheer you along and hand out sweets and chocolates. I remember the hospice as having a real calm feeling and it’s been very comforting to remember Mum in there. When I was walking up to the hospice during Girls Night Out it was a very emotional time for me. It felt like Mum was waiting for me there.”
Julie will be walking with her good friend Allison Humphreys of Bury St Edmunds. They always make sure they are at the front at the start of the walk and Allison who has Multiple Sclerosis is proud to say they finish the walk in under three hours.
Allison said: “I’ve walked Girls Night Out nine times now. Some years I find it very difficult and struggle with my legs the next day, but it’s worth it. My husband David will be at the nine-mile point of the walk, waiting to hand me my hooded jumper and a bacon roll to keep me going.”
Jenny Smith, the hospice’s events manager, said: “Ladies tell us how much they enjoy the experience of walking with thousands of women through Bury St Edmunds. It’s such an amazing atmosphere on the night, with the bunny ears glowing and local residents cheering the walkers along.
“We would love to see as many women as possible support us on the night. So please if you are thinking of signing up please don’t delay, grab your friends and family members and join us on September 14.”
“We believe everyone matters in life and death and your event registration fee and sponsorship money will enable us to equip the community, provide care and strive for something better for people living with dying, death and grief.”
Since the Girls Night Out Walk began in 2009 it has resulted in £1,520,544 for the charity. Last year 2,100 women took part and raised £226,000 for the hospice.
You can sign up online at www.girlsnightoutwalk.co.ukor pick up an application form from one of the hospice’s shops.
You must be aged 14 to take part and those between 14 and 17 must walk with someone over the age of 18.
Pictured above is Julie Elder and Allison Humphreys getting set for this year’s Girls Night Out walk in aid of St Nicholas Hospice Care.