Midsummer Madness for Fairies Fundraising Fun
| Published: 24th January 2008 13:37 |
Up to one thousand fairies are set to walk through the streets and parks of Lichfield later this year in an exciting fundraising event being staged by St Giles Hospice. The charity is set to hold its popular Solstice Walk on the night of 21st/22nd June, and with the theme of ‘A Midsummer Night's Dream', fairy wings and wands are expected to be popular costume choices.
The walk is open to women from across the region, and raises money for the hospice's care of those with cancer and other serious illnesses.
And one of the team's from last year's successful walk - ‘Tim's Angels' - donned wings and wands to officially launch the event at the hospice in Whittington, between Lichfield and Tamworth.
This year, to help participants get into tip-top shape for the 10-mile course around Lichfield, St Giles is encouraging women to sign up to the challenge early.
Sarah Shelton, Community Fundraiser for St Giles Hospice, explains: "This year's event is taking the theme of A Midsummer Night's Dream, and we're looking forward to seeing plenty of fairy wings and spritely feet on the night.
"Most of us are looking to lose a few Christmas pounds and improve our fitness levels at this time of year, and so now is the time to get training with friends or family.
"By setting this summer event as a target, we all have plenty of time to get fit sensibly, with the added incentive of being able to pledge our support to a good local cause."
Organisers have just opened the register for women wishing to take part, and booking forms are available by contacting the Fundraising Office on 01543 432538, or emailing sarah.shelton@st-giles-hospice.org.uk.
The very first St Giles Solstice Walk took place last year and was a wonderful success, with over 400 women taking part and raising in excess of £50,000.
Roz McGann took part with her 15-strong team, Tim's Angels, in memory of her husband, Tim, who was cared for by St Giles.
Roz says: "Last year's Solstice Walk was a really enjoyable night and a great opportunity for myself and Tim's Angels to thank the hospice for all the care and support it offered Tim.
"This year we'll be taking part again, and hope to help raise even more to help fund the vital care that St Giles provides in our community."
Entry is £14 per walker and everyone who signs up will be sent a Solstice Walk sponsorship pack, which includes a map of the route and details of how they can raise sponsorship money.
St Giles Hospice is a registered charity offering high-quality medical and nursing care for people with cancer and other serious illnesses, as well as providing support for their families and carers.
Patients come from across the hospice's catchment area, which ranges from Ashby de la Zouch and Atherstone in the east, to Cannock and Walsall in the west - and from Burton and Uttoxeter in the north, to Sutton Coldfield and Coleshill in the south.
Care is offered at the hospice's facilities in Sutton Coldfield and Whittington between Lichfield and Tamworth, or in patients' own homes across the region.
St Giles spends over £5million every year providing its specialist services. With just a third of this funded by the Government, the registered charity relies heavily on donations and fundraising - of which initiatives such as the Solstice Walk play a major part.
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