It's not too late to join Starlight Walk (From Swindon Advertiser)

It's not too late to join Starlight Walk

5:28pm Friday 29th June 2012 in News

MORE than 600 women will be celebrating the best of British tonight when they take part in Prospect Hospice’s fifth annual Starlight Walk.

The Starlight Walk, supported by Nationwide Building Society, is the hospice’s biggest fundraising event of the year.

Last year saw more than 600 women stepping out for a summer-night’s sponsored walk beneath a starlit sky and they raised more than £87,000 for the hospice.

This year, in celebration of the Queen’s jubilee and the Olympic celebrations the organisers have given the walk a Best Of British theme and are asking participants to dress in red, white and blue.

And organisers are keen to stress that although registrations have closed, it’s still not too late to take part.

“We will accept registrations on the night at £50 a person covering the pre-event registration fee and the start of your sponsorship efforts,” said Becky Gammon, the event organiser.

“We’re hoping that there are a lot of ladies out there planning to take part who haven’t yet registered.

“If you’re one of them, either phone us or turn up on the night to take part.

“It’s a really fun girl’s night out, a physical challenge and a brilliant way to help raise much-needed sponsorship for Prospect Hospice.

“I’m hoping there are still ladies out there who make that decision to take part and join us for what I know is going to be a really great event.”

Among those taking part this year are the family of Honda worker Tony Sheen, who was cared for by Prospect Hospice, before he lost his battle with pancreatic cancer in November 2010.

His widow Carolyn and their daughter Becky, 30, of Stratton are among the team Tony’s Angels, which has signed up for tonight.

“We wanted to raise some money in thanks for all the support the hospice gave, not just to my dad, but to the whole family,” said Becky.

“Dad was full of praise for the care he received from the Prospect nurse who visited him and for the help he had from the team on the In-patient Unit, and the support he had from the clinical psychologist who helped him to come to terms with all he was going through.”

The 10k and 15k routes set off from the Croft Sports Centre. The route is available at www.prospect- hospice.net/starlightmap.

To sign up for Prospect Hospice’s Starlight Walk phone 01793 816161. Registration costs just £15 and walkers are encouraged to raise at least £100 in sponsorship.