The streets of Manchester will be a hive of activity this April as thousands of local people – and bees – take on a 10km moonlit challenge in support of St Ann’s.
Our flagship fundraising event, the Manchester Midnight Walk, is back for its thirteenth year, and will take place on Friday 26th April. The event starts and finishes at Manchester Cathedral, and this year, we’re encouraging as many people as possible to embrace the bee theme.
The Manchester Midnight Walk has pulled in crowds every year since it began and it has a real party atmosphere. Every year, many participants come along in fancy dress, and we’re encouraging that again this year too, by inviting people to come along as bees. The Midnight Walk is famous for its yellow and black colour theme, so it seems fitting to have as many bees as possible buzzing around the city centre to raise money for our patients. Don’t worry if fancy dress isn’t your thing though, please do still come along and join us – we’d love to see as many people there as possible. It’s so heart-warming to see so many Mancunians and Salfordians gathered together in support of the hospice, as they pass some of our most loved local landmarks to raise money for others. We start and finish at the beautiful Manchester Cathedral again this year, and we are really grateful for their support and help with our fundraising. I’m looking forward to seeing as many people as possible there on the night.
Eamonn O’Neal, Chief Executive of St Ann’s
The walk has raised more than £2million since it began thirteen years ago, and the money raised helps St Ann’s to continue providing their specialist care to local patients and their families.
One family member who will be there this year is Emma Jeffries, who will be walking with her friends to support the hospice.
We’ll be walking in memory of my mum Yvonne who died in St Ann’s Hospice on Christmas Day. Mum was only at St Ann’s in Heald Green for two days, but we want to raise money for the hospice because of the way they looked after our family in such difficult circumstances. The care and dignity the staff showed to my mum was amazing, and we were looked after so well as a family during her time there, and after her passing too. The whole team was amazing. I’m going to be raising money to give something back, and I’m proud to support such a fantastic cause.
Emma Jeffries, Supporter
The walk starts at midnight, and participants will take on a 10km loop which starts and ends at Manchester Cathedral. Warm up entertainment starts at 9pm, with music, disco and refreshments available before the walk begins.
Many walkers take part in memory of lost loved ones, whilst others join in simply for a night of fun and fundraising.
A special early bird rate is available for keen walkers who book their place early.
*Early Bird fee of £16 or £13 for groups of five people or more is available until 28th February 2019. Following that date, the Standard Adult Fee of £21 applies for those aged 18 and over. The Youth Fee for walkers aged 11-17 years (walkers must be aged 11 or over) is £11, with Previous Walkers at £16, and Groups (five people or more) fee of £16 per person.
