Thousands take on hospice midnight charity challenge
TWO thousand people took part in the Manchester Midnight Walk to raise money for St Ann’s Hospice on Friday night.
There was a party atmosphere as they paraded through the streets for 10km to make an estimated £200,000 for one of the oldest adult hospices in the country.
TV fitness instructor ‘Mr Motivator’ Derrick Evans got walkers in the mood with an energetic warm up. Derrick hails from Manchester in Jamaica and lives in the parish of St Ann on the island.
He said: “The two Manchesters are the same because they both like to party – except it’s always 90 degrees over there! St Ann’s is a great charity and does such wonderful work in the community with all its services provided free of charge.”
Many walkers take part in memory of lost loved ones and a minute’s silence was held in their honour beforehand.
Rachel McMillan, director of clinical services at St Ann’s, and
CHRIS BULL nurses Sarah McDonnell and Kelly Keane made emotional addresses about the hospice’s work.
Dozens of girl guides took part for the first time in tribute to former leader Nola Smith, from Reddish, while neighbourhood police officers from Stockport were dressed as cops and robbers.
Landlords and landla- dies from the brewery Hydes took a night off from behind the bar to show their support by taking part.
Alison Gilbody, director of income generation and communications at St Ann’s Hospice, said: “I’d like to thank everyone who took part in one of our biggest fundraising events of the year.
“Once again, walkers turned out in force to demonstrate their support for St Ann’s and our charity simply wouldn’t survive without such kind donations from sponsorship and entries.
“With an ageing population, more people will be needing hospice care in the future and it’s important to remember that all our services are provided free of charge
MARK FLYNN with only around a third of income from the NHS. That is why events like this one are so important to enable us to continue providing much-needed care.”
Organisers are already planning a special 10th anniversary celebration walk next year on June 24. Online registrations for next year will open in the next few days.