Hospiscare calls on ladies to walk under the stars

With the Hospiscare Men’s Walk only a couple of weeks away, the charity has announced that registration opened on Thursday 28 February for the Ladies’ Starlight Walk.

The event, which is taking place on Saturday 11 May in Exmouth, has a new name, new route and new start time but the same feeling of togetherness, as ladies raise money for the charity which provides end of life care for patients in Exeter, mid and East Devon.

Formerly the Midnight Walk, the new Starlight Walk, which starts and finishes at Exmouth rugby club and is sponsored by estate agents Whitton and Laing, will take participants along 12km of Exmouth's seafront and countryside, with all offered a much deserved treat back in the marquee afterwards.

John Humphreys, the Mayor of Exmouth, is giving the event his full support. "I am delighted that the Starlight Walk is returning to Exmouth. Hospiscare is a cause close to the hearts of many of us not just in Exmouth but in every community,” he said.

“It is inspiring to see how this event has just grown and grown and I'm sure that many women of Exmouth will want to participate and that their  families and friends will support them. And the town will welcome with open arms all those visitors coming to take part."

The walk starts at 8pm and entry is £15, which includes refreshments and a Starlight Walk T-shirt. Hospiscare would like each lady to try to raise £100 in sponsorship money (this is not mandatory and any donations are welcome), although many raise considerably more.

Imogen Walsh, from Exeter, is already in training for this year’s walk, after raising an impressive £535 for last year’s event. She says she intends to do the walk every year in order to try and give something back to Hospiscare, which looked after her mother.

“In January 2012 my mother died at the age of 87 from ovarian and bowel cancer. She spent a lot of time at home and then Hospiscare in Honiton took over her - and our - care and they were absolutely wonderful,” she said.

“They took away as much stress as they could and psychologically it made a huge difference. I thought they were a marvellous organisation and the carers gave my father and myself therapies too,  which really helped us and made it as possible as it could have been to cope.

“The walk is a wonderful thing, with lots of camaraderie and fun - although the cause behind it is serious, it’s important to remember the fun element, too. And of course you finish with  a bacon roll and a cup of tea - what more could you want?”

For more information, see www.womensstarlightwalk.co.uk