I first heard about Saint Michael’s Hospice in 1988. My mum, who was dying from breast cancer, would need a hospice very soon. Saint Michael’s was not complete in time for her to enjoy the special care that Saint Michael’s is now renowned for.

Nearly 20 years later, in 2007, a friend, Moira, asked me to accompany her on the first Midnight Walk. She had throat cancer and had endured countless chemo and radio therapy treatments; she wanted to get herself fit again. The Midnight Walk was the challenge.

We began with short walks in the countryside around her home, practising and strengthening Moira, and gradually built up the distance to six and a half miles. Finally we were ready!

Many of my friends found it quite incredible that I was going to give up my sleep to walk six and a half miles at midnight. They didn’t know what they were missing. A fantastic atmosphere, people chatting, laughing – a real sense of camaraderie! A great way to raise money for a worthy cause.

So began a routine of me registering for the walk, as early as possible, sometimes I walked with friends and last year I did it on my own. Moira had continued her battle with cancer, but finally lost it in April 2011. Walking on my own was hard last year, but I was determined to raise money for Saint Michael’s again and to walk in memory of Moira – a very special lady.

She spent the last few weeks of life in the beautiful setting of Saint Michael’s with the caring nurses, doctors and other staff, where nothing was too much trouble. She loved dogs and the PAT dogs who came to visit gave her great joy.

Saint Michael’s is a wonderful place filled with tranquillity, care and peacefulness.

MORE THAN 150 people have already signed up for Harrogate’s biggest summer community event.

And there are still two days left to join them in taking advantage of an early bird entry offer for Saint Michael’s Midnight Walk. Those securing their place at the event, supported by Engage Mutual, before midnight on Sunday April 1 will register for the special price of just £10.

The quarter marathon fundraiser takes place this year on Saturday June 30 and will raise money for people living with terminal illness and bereavement.

Saint Michael’s chief executive, Tony Collins, said: “The Midnight Walk is such a popular event for our community and there’s been a rush of people signing up online. But with limited places available, we are urging people to take advantage of the early bird offer and sign up today to avoid missing out. Since 2007, our Midnight Walkers have raised more than £500,000 to support families in our community living with terminal illness and bereavement – that is a huge impact and something that everyone involved can be very proud of.”

The 6.5mile sponsored walk will start and finish at the Yorkshire Event Centre on the Great Yorkshire Showground, Wetherby Road, and follow a well lit, fully marshalled circular route around Harrogate town centre.

For the fifth year running the event is sponsored by Engage Mutual. The event is also being supported by two media partners, Harrogate Advertiser and 97.2 Stray FM.

Places are limited and participants must pre-register before Friday June 15. Registration price after Sunday April 1 is £12 for adults, and £6 for under 16s.
People can secure their place online today here. Alternatively, paper registration forms are available from any Saint Michael’s shop or by calling the hospice on (01423) 879 687.

Engage Mutual is the corporate sponsor of this summer’s Midnight Walk, the annual community fundraiser in aid of Saint Michael’s.

The event sees hundreds of local people take to the streets of Harrogate at midnight to raise funds for the charity that cares for more than 2,400 people living with terminal illness and bereavement each year.

Chief executive of Engage Mutual, Andrew Haigh, said:

“Our sponsorship of the Midnight Walk enables Saint Michael’s to turn our donation into a much bigger contribution towards their running costs, and also gives us the opportunity to lend more than just financial support.

“Many staff get fully behind the event, helping to promote it through leaflet drops, volunteering as stewards or registration clerks on the night, as well as raising sponsorship and taking part in the walk itself.

“It’s great to be able to get involved in an event that genuinely unites the community behind an extremely good cause.”

Saint Michael’s chief executive, Tony Collins, said:

“Engage Mutual’s continued support of the Midnight Walk illustrates a remarkable long term commitment to ensuring that local people get the end of life care they want, need and deserve.

“More than 4,000 local people have taken part in the Midnight Walk since 2007, raising more than £500,000 for Saint Michael’s.

“Engage Mutual should be very proud of the part they continue to play in this event’s success”.

Engage Mutual, whose offices are situated next to Saint Michael’s on Hornbeam Park, Harrogate, are long-term supporters of the charity.

The company are members of the charity’s corporate partnership scheme, the Guild of Patrons, have a volunteer scheme which allows employees to undertake a variety of tasks for the hospice within working hours, as well as a regular programme of staff fundraising initiatives.

The Midnight Walk will take place on Saturday June 30 but participants must pre-register before Friday June 15.

Registration costs just £10 for those signing up before March 31.

Engage Mutual’s corporate support plus walker registration fees cover event costs, meaning all personal sponsorship goes directly to Saint Michael’s, which needs £3.9million every year to maintain its specialist services.

The event is open to all and is suitable for all ages and abilities.

Register your place today.

Tony Collins, chief executive of the charity that provides specialist end of life care and support to more than 2,400 local people each year, said: “We are celebrating Saint Michael’s 25^th anniversary this year, so as it’s a special year for Saint Michael’s we hope that this Midnight Walk is extra special for the community.

“Since 2007, our Midnight Walkers have raised more than £500,000 to support families in our community living with terminal illness and bereavement – that is a huge impact and something that everyone involved can be very proud of.”

The 6.5mile walk will start and finish at the Yorkshire Event Centre on the Great Yorkshire Showground, Wetherby Road, and follow a well lit, fully marshalled circular route around Harrogate town centre.

The first person to sign up to this year’s event and to take advantage of the £10 early bird offer was committed Midnight Walker, Sue Oxley, from Wetherby.

The retired deputy head teacher has taken part in the event every year since it began in 2007 and couldn’t wait to secure her place on the star light stroll this time around.

Sue, walking for the second consecutive year in memory of her friend and relative, Moira Wilson, who died in Saint Michael’s inpatient unit in April 2010, said: “It was Moira who originally encouraged me to sign up to the first ever Midnight Walk and we continued to take part together each year until she became too ill.

“Last year’s walk was hard, coming so soon after losing Moira. But I was determined to do it, both for my dear friend, and to support the charity that cared for her in the last weeks of her life.”

Midnight Memories: Sue Oxley with her friend Moira Wilson in Saint Michael's inpatient unit

“It’s now a bittersweet event for me, but the atmosphere is fantastic and there is plenty of support along the way.

“I love my sleep, but this is the one night of the year that I don’t mind having a very late night.”

Tony Collins added “Sue is a tireless supporter of the Midnight Walk, raising a significant amount of personal sponsorship to support the services that helped her dear friend.

“We are grateful for her continued support and look forward to welcoming her back this year to help us celebrate our 25^th anniversary.”

For the fifth year running the event is sponsored by Engage Mutual. Andrew Haigh, chief executive of the Harrogate-based financial services provider, said: “We’re delighted to be supporting the Midnight Walk for a fifth year.

“In addition to our sponsorship of the event, we have many staff members who look forward to taking part, either as walkers or through a number of volunteer roles.  It’s a great opportunity to be part of an enjoyable and important community event which supports a great cause”.

The event is also being supported by two media partners, Harrogate Advertiser and 97.2 Stray FM.

The charity is offering a special early bird registration price of just £10 for those signing up to the event before Thursday March 31.
Places are limited and participants must pre-register before Friday June 15.

Secure your place online today. Alternatively, paper registration forms are available from any Saint Michael’s shop or by calling the hospice on (01423) 879 687.

The fifth Engage Mutual Midnight Walk  saw walkers complete the quarter marathon route taking in the town’s sights, including Saint Michael’s Hospice on Hornbeam Park, to benefit patients and families in the area living with terminal illness and bereavement.

Early estimates indicate about £90,000 has been raised for the charity through personal and group sponsorship, event sponsorship, registration and the event’s new text donation line. It will all go towards the £3.9m it costs Saint Michael’s to maintain its services each year, more than 80 per cent of which is raised by the community.

This figure will be dependent on participants getting their pledges in to Saint Michael’s and those who submit their pledges before Sunday July 31 will be entered into a prize draw to win a hamper including champagne, chocolate and vouchers for afternoon tea for two at Betty’s.

Saint Michael’s Chief Executive, Tony Collins, said: “The Engage Mutual Midnight Walk was once again a fantastic success and an equally fantastic occasion.

“To everyone who participated in the walk, volunteered their time at the event, and donated their money, a big ‘thank you’ for making the Midnight Walk one of the highlights of the year for Saint Michael’s and the community we are here to serve.

“With every step, our walkers were making a real difference to local families living with terminal illness and bereavement and their efforts will allow us to continue to respond to the increasing numbers of people requesting our help.”

It was the first time in the history of Saint Michael’s that people unable to participate in the event were able to text their donations to the charity – a feature plenty of supporters took advantage of.

The event began at the Yorkshire Events Centre and in the two hours leading up to Midnight, the team from Stray FM orchestrated the stage show with music and interviews with walkers, as well as a live Zumba demonstration and high energy warm up courtesy of the fitness gurus from Nuffield Health Club.

Huckleberries were also on face-painting duties and many colourful walkers took to the streets decorated with stars and patterns.

At the finish line, returning walkers received a badge and certificate before tucking into well deserved bacon butties and tea and coffee.

Vanessa’s Book Group from Harrogate took part in the event wearing coloured wigs. Vanessa Paul from the group said: “It’s a good cause and everyone has a connection to it. We admire everything Saint Michael’s does and we wanted to do our bit and have fun as well. The wigs were an easy way to customise our look!”

Peter Ferrol, aged 41 from Harrogate, walked with members of his family in memory of his mother, Norma May Ferrol, who died at Saint Michael’s in August 2009. He said: “The care at Saint Michael’s is so heartfelt and personal, and its role in our family has been great so we wanted to give something back.

“It is important to have a local hospice that is personal to each patient. Saint Michael’s has such a friendly atmosphere, when you’re there you feel like you’re part of the family because they look after everyone so well. The door is always open and you can visit any time.

“It is great to walk for such a wonderful cause and in memory of mum.”

As an extra bonus for this year’s event, participants were asked to guess where the Purple Trainers were hidden along the route. They were placed at West Park Church in the town centre.

The Engage Mutual Midnight Walk was also supported by two media partners; Harrogate Advertiser and 97.2 Stray FM.  

Supporters are still able to text their donations to Saint Michael’s by texting the code MIDW11 and their donation amount to 70070.

For more information and to see the photo gallery visit www.facebook.com/midnightwalk or vist Sira Studio at http://gallery.me.com/sirastudio#100846