How far is the route? There is a choice this year of a five or eight mile route, so depending on your fitness you can choose either.
Will there be parking on the night? Yes, there will be parking available on the night, details of this will be sent to you. Parking is free and will be manned by volunteer marshals. Where is registration on the night? Registration will take place at Ipswich Town Football Club. Entrance is via Gate 17 on Portman Road. Are there any lockers/storage facilities to leave things at the start? Unfortunately there are no facilities to leave possessions at the football ground so please make sure you only bring absolute essentials. How much does it cost to take part? The registration fee is £15.00. This covers the cost of administration, your Midnight Walk t-shirt, refreshments en route, a hot chocolate and bacon roll at the end and a medal. The registration fee ensures that all the sponsorship money you raise can go directly to helping our patients and their families, friends and carers. Do I have to raise a certain amount of money? There is no minimum sponsorship; however we ask that you aim to raise as much money as possible. Remember that every pound you raise will go towards helping St Elizabeth Hospice to improve life for those living with a progressive illness. For example: £50 could help to provide a visit to a patient by our Hospice at Home team helping them to stay at home in the final stages of their illness is they wish
£100 could help to provide seven nurse telephone support calls, offering vital advice and support to patients and their families 24 hours a day.
£150 could help to provide a Hospice inpatient unit nurse for one day providing palliative care for the relief of pain and other distressing symptoms
Why not use Justgiving to set up your own fundraising page? You can create your own online fundraising page with details of what you are doing, when you are doing it and why you are doing it. Email a link to all your friends, family and colleagues anywhere in the world and they can donate online by debit or credit card. No internet experience is necessary, it's really easy to set up and it avoids the hassle of chasing people for their sponsorship money! St Elizabeth Hospice will automatically receive any donations made via your page. For more information visit the Justgiving website or contact the Midnight Walk team on 01473 707043 or email midnightwalk@stelizabethhospice.org.uk Can I gift aid my donation? You can ask each person that sponsors you to gift aid their donation by ticking the gift aid box on your sponsor form. If the person sponsoring you is a UK tax payer or pays Capital Gains Tax then you can make the donation worth even more. For every £1 you give to us we get an extra 25p. How do I hand in my sponsor money? Please send a cheque to: Midnight Walk, St Elizabeth Hospice, 565 Foxhall Road, Ipswich, IP3 8LX. Alternatively, you can bring the money to the Hospice.
How long is the route? There is the choice of a five or eight mile route with refreshment stops en route. How long will the walk take? There is no rush and we encourage walkers to go at their own pace. The walk is definitely not a race and there will be no pressure to finish in a certain time. There will be lead walkers as well as walkers at the back of the pack to ensure the last participants return safely. No walkers are allowed to run or jog and no walker must pass the nominated walk leader. Where does the walk go? The Midnight Walk is a circular walk through Ipswich starting and finishing at Ipswich Town Football Club on Portman Road. Will there be any refreshments? There will be refreshments at two rest points on the eight mile route, one rest point on the five mile route and a hot chocolate and bacon roll at the end of the walk. We recommend you bring water to take on the walk. Is there an alternative to the hot chocolate and bacon roll at the end of the walk? Due to the volume of participants, it is not possible to offer alternatives. Will there be toilets en route? Toilet facilities will be available at the start and end of the walk and at the rest points on the route. Will it be safe? Your safety is of utmost important to us. The event has been organised in conjunction with Suffolk Constabulary and the route will be well marshalled by volunteers.
Is the route suitable for children? The Midnight Walk is not suitable for those under 13 years of age. I'm in a wheelchair? Can I still take part? Unfortunately the routes are not suitable for wheelchairs. What do I need to wear? We recommend that you wear comfortable clothes and shoes. Your registration fee includes a t-shirt and we are encouraging all participants to dress to impress! This year's theme is School Disco! When do I get my t-shirt? T-shirts will be distributed with the walker packs 3-4 weeks before the event. Please indicate on your registration form what size t-shirt you require. Can I bring pets? No pets or animals are permitted on the Midnight walk except for guide dogs. Do I have to be fit? No, you can take it at your own pace. We do recommend that you should train before taking part and that you feel comfortable that you will be able to complete a walk of this distance. The Midnight Walk is a fun walk and you can take it at your own pace, however the longest route is eight miles long! How old do I need to be? Entrants must be 13 years of age or over on 19th May 2012. Any walker under the age of 18 must include the name and authorisation of the parent/guardian who will be accompanying them on the walk on their registration form.
Why can only women take part? The Midnight Walk invites women of all ages and fitness levels to join together to help raise funds for their local hospice. The walk is about empowering women by being supported by women. Most women will know a family member or friend who has been affected by cancer or other terminal illnesses. There is something special about a group of women joining together for a common cause. We do however need lots of volunteers on the night so any men who would like to be involved please contact us about joining our volunteer team.
Can I walk with a group of my friends? Yes you can but you need to register as individuals. To make administration easier, we would encourage all groups of walkers to give themselves a group name and detail this on the registration form. If you have any further questions call us on 01473 707043 or email midnightwalk@stelizabethhospice.org.uk