A HOSPICE is making a final call for people to sign up to this year’s Midnight Walk.

The walk for St Helena Hospice will take place on Saturday night and those taking part can tackle either a four-and-a-half mile or nine mile route around Colchester.

Hundreds of people have already signed up with many preparing to don their Hawaiian themed fancy dress for the event.

Lisa Chenery, St Helena Hospice’s events fundraiser, said: “This is our 11th Midnight Walk and as ever it’s set to be an incredible night.

“We can’t wait to see hundreds of people coming together to walk en masse around Colchester.

“May is National Walking Month, so if you’re aiming to get your steps up, taking part in the Midnight Walk is a great way of doing this.

“The four-and-a-half mile walk is equivalent to around 9,000 steps and nine miles is around 18,000 steps.”

She said: “Whether you’re walking in-memory of a loved one, with your mates, with your gym buddies or slimming group, by taking part and raising sponsorship you will be making a difference to the patients, families and carers we support in your community.”

Both routes will start and finish at Stanfords in Wyncolls Road, Colchester, and each will pass the memory stop at Colchester Rugby Club, where walkers can take a quiet moment to remember loved ones and to place a personalised tag on the special memory tree.

Last year, the event raised an astonishing £65,000 which is enough to pay for more than 2,800 one-hour home visits from St Helena Hospice’s community clinical nurse specialists.

All walkers are asked to raise a minimum of £50 each in sponsorship.

Everyone who raises more than £250 in sponsorship will be entered into a prize draw to win two tickets to see Craig David at Colchester Castle Park on June 2. The prize has been kindly donated by Liz Hobbs Group Limited.

Registration for the Midnight Walk is £15 per person or £25 including a limited edition Midnight Walk t-shirt.

Advance registration will close tomorrow at 5pm.

You can, however, still sign up on the day from 9pm at a cost of £20 per person but this does not include a t-shirt.

To sign up or for more information, visit sthelena.org.uk/midnightwalk.

See Monday's Daily Gazette for an 8 page special report and our website for a gallery of pictures.