Hospice adds exciting new walk to its event calendar

St Nicholas Hospice Care has today (February 2) opened registrations for its brand-new fundraiser, the Sunset Walk and it is hoping as many people as possible will sign up for the event and help to raise vital funds for the charity.  

Sponsored by Greene King, this festival-themed walk, which has two routes 10km and 15km, both of which start and finish in the Abbey Gardens, takes place on June 22, and promises to be an evening of camaraderie and fundraising in the heart of Bury St Edmunds.

Walkers will set off at 6pm, but those taking part are encouraged to come along earlier as there will be pre-walk entertainment featuring music and a warm-up, plus refreshments to enjoy as well as stalls to peruse and a ‘selfie’ area where the perfect photo can be captured.

Charlie De-Moore, the hospice’s event manager, said: “We are all so excited to be launching our Sunset Walk. This is a brand-new event for us, and we hope the community will embrace it and join in to help raise funds which will support our care and services.

“As well as creating meaningful moments that allow those taking part to remember their loved ones, this event will also be filled with fun and music, and we hope the experience will create happy memories for people to share.

“Whether you are walking in memory of a loved one, or to raise funds for us, your steps will raise vital funds to help those in your community facing dying, death and grief.

“We’re also grateful to our sponsors Greene King for generously backing this event.”

Along the routes, there will be music to add to the occasion’s festival vibe, and there will also be times when those taking part in-memory of someone special can pause and remember them.

There will also be paper lanterns which can be personalised and placed at the Hospice in remembrance.

The Sunset Walk is open to anyone wishing to support those St Nic’s helps every day, and it is suitable for all ages and abilities.

Alison Ramsay, Senior Social Impact Manager at Greene King, said, “We’re proud to be sponsoring the first Sunset Walk for St Nicholas Hospice Care.  At Greene King, we’re passionate about supporting our local communities in which we live and work, especially in our hometown of Bury St Edmunds.

“St Nic’s does such an incredible job in supporting patients and their loved ones through one of life’s most difficult and emotional times with dignity and is a cause close to the hearts of so many in our town.

“As this is the first time the event has been held, it would be great to see as many people as possible donning their trainers and taking part to raise money for a fantastic local cause!”

It costs St Nic’s around £22,000 a day to provide all their services, and although they receive some statutory funding, this only covers around 20% of their costs, which means fundraisers like this are vital, which is why the charity is asking all of those who take part to aim to raise at least £100.

Currently, you can sign up for the event at a reduced rate of £12 for adults, £7 for children aged five to 17, and under-fives go free. This early bird offer finishes on April 2. All those aged under 18 must walk with an adult. For more information and to register for the Sunset Walk please click here.