SCHOOL staff are gearing up to shimmy around Colchester in memory of a receptionist who died following a brain tumour.

A group of 15 men and women from the Gilberd School, Colchester, have signed up for St Helena Hospice’s Midnight Walk on Saturday, May 11.

They want to support the hospice which provided care and support for their friend and colleague Lynn Love and her family after she was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2016.

Lynn, from Colchester, worked at the Highwoods school for several years and despite her illness was determined to take part in the walk in 2017. She died last July, aged 60.

Rebecca Litton, assistant headteacher, said: “When we did it with Lynn, when she stepped over the finish line it was truly emotional.

“We all took it in turns to push her around, but at the end she was determined to walk over the finish line herself, with a bit of help. She really enjoyed it.”

Vicky Evans, human resources assistan, said: “As a school we are very grateful to St Helena Hospice for the care and support it has given in the past and continue to provide to the community and to our school.

“Many of us have got personal reasons for taking part.

“We want to raise awareness for the amazing work St Helena Hospice does and want to help them raise funds to ensure their valuable work continues to benefit so many.”

Men, women and children aged 11 and over are invited to join the Midnight Walk and can choose to walk either 4.5 or nine miles around Colchester.

Everyone is asked to raise sponsorship.

Team Gilberd is taking on the nine-mile route with members dressed in Hawaiian theme.

Both the 4.5 and nine mile routes pass the memory stop and everyone will have the opportunity to place a personalised tag on the special memory tree with a message to those they’re remembering and walking for.

Registration is £10 per person for the first 500 people to sign up and will then increase to £15 per person.

All walkers are asked to try to raise a minimum of £50 each in sponsorship for the hospice.

Everyone who raises £250 in sponsorship will be entered into a prize draw to win two tickets to see Craig David in Castle Park on June 2, donated by Liz Hobbs Group Limited.

To sign up for the Midnight Walk, visit sthelena.org.uk/midnightwalk.

To get tickets to see Craig David at Castle Park, visit ticketmaster.co.uk.