Midnight Walkers raise £250,000 for Hospice A ladies-only Midnight Walk raised around £250,000 in just one night for St Elizabeth Hospice. More than 2,200 women left the start line at Ipswich Town Football Club in Portman Road between 10.30pm and midnight on Saturday May 22nd and completed the eight-mile sponsored walk around the town centre. St Elizabeth Hospice's Midnight Walk 2010, supported by the Evening Star, East Anglian Daily Times, Star Advertiser and Town 102, was such a success that it has just been announced the event will also go ahead next year. It will take place in May 2011 so watch this space for the actual date once it is confirmed. The atmosphere on the night was amazing and the balmy nighttime weather was just right. Many women started by taking part in a warm up with fitness experts The Fitness Unit in the Legends bar. Then the first group of walkers were led out at 10.30pm by breast cancer sufferer Julie Collis, 43, of Ipswich, who just weeks ago had a mastectomy but was determined to take part, and St Elizabeth Hospice's chief executive Jane Loughlin. Ms Loughlin said: "I would like to say a huge thankyou to all the women who took part in the Midnight Walk 2010 for St Elizabeth Hospice. "It was a tremendous night. I am aware that despite all the fun and laughter, many of you were walking in memory of a loved-one or because you have a personal connection to the Hospice or know someone who has benefited from our care. "The event raised around £250,000 - which is more than the £230,000 raised at last year's Midnight Walk - and will have a real impact on helping us to continue to provide specialist services free of charge for people in East Suffolk who have an illness from which they will not recover. This money will really make a real difference to our patients, their families and carers and on behalf of them I would also like to say thankyou." The entertainment en route proved a hit, particularly the muscly bare-chested men from Felixstowe handing out refreshments at St Augustine's Roundabout. The firemen from the Colchester Road station also got into the spirit of things chatting to the women as they passed and having their photos taken with them. The Town 102 mascots added to the fun factor at the start line. The first women finished the route in just under two hours while the last ones returned around 3am. The Midnight Walk is finally here! Good luck to all the women taking part, it is going to be a great night and the atmosphere will be fantastic. Also, the weather forecast looks great so that's a bonus. Remember to dress to impress - some of you have opted for our party packs containing flashing necklaces and head boppers, others have their own ideas such as leg warmers, bunny ears and tutus, but anything goes. Don'f forget your barcode, which you will need to wear on the night. We will upload photos and video over the weekend and on Monday so check our website, Facebook page, Twitter and Youtube. The Evening Star will also have lots of photos from the night in Monday's paper. Remembering Gran at the Midnight Walk Devoted granddaughter Tania Stacey will take part in St Elizabeth Hospice's Midnight Walk to remember her grandmother and the care she received. Tania will stride out with a group of friends and hopes to raise as much money as possible to "give something back to the Hospice." Her grandmother Violet Goodall, of Ipswich, was a day care patient and later cared for on the in-patient unit, where she died in April 2009. Tania said: "She was a very special lady and I feel privileged to have been her granddaughter. She was my world. I spent every weekend with her as a child, so you can imagine the bond I built up with her was a strong one. I looked up to her and admired her strength during her illness. I want to do the Midnight Walk in memory of grandma and hope she will be with me every step of the way, and to raise as much as I can for the place that made her life happy and more worthwhile - St Elizabeth Hospice. She loved the Hospice and said she wanted to die there." Tania's group on the walk is called Dexys Midnight Walkers. Local firm's "good" deed for Midnight Walk Nineteen staff from the Ipswich office of KPMG, volunteered time out of their working day to help St Elizabeth Hospice prepare for the Midnight Walk. Volunteers from the accountancy and business advisory firm spent the day at the Hospice, in Foxhall Road, Ipswich, packing 2,200 goody bags which will be handed out to all the walkers when they finish the ladies-only fundraising event on May 22nd. Zsa Zsa Sparrow, of KPMG, said: "KPMG is committed to supporting the communities in which its staff live and work. KPMG Ipswich has had a lengthy association with St Elizabeth Hospice, having already supported them with a formal two year fundraising partnership from 2006-2008 which generated over £9,000. We were delighted to be able to continue to support the Hospice by providing volunteers to undertake this huge task to help ensure the success and smooth running of the Midnight Walk." Midnight Walk event organiser Emily Sullivan said: "We are extremely grateful for the help the staff from KPMG gave us. It was a huge task but they all pulled together and had some fun on the way. The Hospice is an independent charity which provides services free of charge and the support of local companies is vital". You are invited to join us outside Debenhams in Westgate Street, Ipswich on Saturday 5th June 10am - 3pm.
Midnight Walkers raise £250,000 for Hospice A ladies-only Midnight Walk raised around £250,000 in just one night for St Elizabeth Hospice. More than 2,200 women left the start line at Ipswich Town Football Club in Portman Road between 10.30pm and midnight on Saturday May 22nd and completed the eight-mile sponsored walk around the town centre. St Elizabeth Hospice's Midnight Walk 2010, supported by the Evening Star, East Anglian Daily Times, Star Advertiser and Town 102, was such a success that it has just been announced the event will also go ahead next year. It will take place in May 2011 so watch this space for the actual date once it is confirmed. The atmosphere on the night was amazing and the balmy nighttime weather was just right. Many women started by taking part in a warm up with fitness experts The Fitness Unit in the Legends bar. Then the first group of walkers were led out at 10.30pm by breast cancer sufferer Julie Collis, 43, of Ipswich, who just weeks ago had a mastectomy but was determined to take part, and St Elizabeth Hospice's chief executive Jane Loughlin. Ms Loughlin said: "I would like to say a huge thankyou to all the women who took part in the Midnight Walk 2010 for St Elizabeth Hospice. "It was a tremendous night. I am aware that despite all the fun and laughter, many of you were walking in memory of a loved-one or because you have a personal connection to the Hospice or know someone who has benefited from our care. "The event raised around £250,000 - which is more than the £230,000 raised at last year's Midnight Walk - and will have a real impact on helping us to continue to provide specialist services free of charge for people in East Suffolk who have an illness from which they will not recover. This money will really make a real difference to our patients, their families and carers and on behalf of them I would also like to say thankyou." The entertainment en route proved a hit, particularly the muscly bare-chested men from Felixstowe handing out refreshments at St Augustine's Roundabout. The firemen from the Colchester Road station also got into the spirit of things chatting to the women as they passed and having their photos taken with them. The Town 102 mascots added to the fun factor at the start line. The first women finished the route in just under two hours while the last ones returned around 3am. The Midnight Walk is finally here! Good luck to all the women taking part, it is going to be a great night and the atmosphere will be fantastic. Also, the weather forecast looks great so that's a bonus. Remember to dress to impress - some of you have opted for our party packs containing flashing necklaces and head boppers, others have their own ideas such as leg warmers, bunny ears and tutus, but anything goes. Don'f forget your barcode, which you will need to wear on the night. We will upload photos and video over the weekend and on Monday so check our website, Facebook page, Twitter and Youtube. The Evening Star will also have lots of photos from the night in Monday's paper. Remembering Gran at the Midnight Walk Devoted granddaughter Tania Stacey will take part in St Elizabeth Hospice's Midnight Walk to remember her grandmother and the care she received. Tania will stride out with a group of friends and hopes to raise as much money as possible to "give something back to the Hospice." Her grandmother Violet Goodall, of Ipswich, was a day care patient and later cared for on the in-patient unit, where she died in April 2009. Tania said: "She was a very special lady and I feel privileged to have been her granddaughter. She was my world. I spent every weekend with her as a child, so you can imagine the bond I built up with her was a strong one. I looked up to her and admired her strength during her illness. I want to do the Midnight Walk in memory of grandma and hope she will be with me every step of the way, and to raise as much as I can for the place that made her life happy and more worthwhile - St Elizabeth Hospice. She loved the Hospice and said she wanted to die there." Tania's group on the walk is called Dexys Midnight Walkers. Local firm's "good" deed for Midnight Walk Nineteen staff from the Ipswich office of KPMG, volunteered time out of their working day to help St Elizabeth Hospice prepare for the Midnight Walk. Volunteers from the accountancy and business advisory firm spent the day at the Hospice, in Foxhall Road, Ipswich, packing 2,200 goody bags which will be handed out to all the walkers when they finish the ladies-only fundraising event on May 22nd.
A ladies-only Midnight Walk raised around £250,000 in just one night for St Elizabeth Hospice.
More than 2,200 women left the start line at Ipswich Town Football Club in Portman Road between 10.30pm and midnight on Saturday May 22nd and completed the eight-mile sponsored walk around the town centre.
St Elizabeth Hospice's Midnight Walk 2010, supported by the Evening Star, East Anglian Daily Times, Star Advertiser and Town 102, was such a success that it has just been announced the event will also go ahead next year. It will take place in May 2011 so watch this space for the actual date once it is confirmed.
The atmosphere on the night was amazing and the balmy nighttime weather was just right.
Many women started by taking part in a warm up with fitness experts The Fitness Unit in the Legends bar. Then the first group of walkers were led out at 10.30pm by breast cancer sufferer Julie Collis, 43, of Ipswich, who just weeks ago had a mastectomy but was determined to take part, and St Elizabeth Hospice's chief executive Jane Loughlin.
Ms Loughlin said: "I would like to say a huge thankyou to all the women who took part in the Midnight Walk 2010 for St Elizabeth Hospice.
"It was a tremendous night. I am aware that despite all the fun and laughter, many of you were walking in memory of a loved-one or because you have a personal connection to the Hospice or know someone who has benefited from our care.
"The event raised around £250,000 - which is more than the £230,000 raised at last year's Midnight Walk - and will have a real impact on helping us to continue to provide specialist services free of charge for people in East Suffolk who have an illness from which they will not recover. This money will really make a real difference to our patients, their families and carers and on behalf of them I would also like to say thankyou."
The entertainment en route proved a hit, particularly the muscly bare-chested men from Felixstowe handing out refreshments at St Augustine's Roundabout.
The firemen from the Colchester Road station also got into the spirit of things chatting to the women as they passed and having their photos taken with them. The Town 102 mascots added to the fun factor at the start line.
The first women finished the route in just under two hours while the last ones returned around 3am.
The Midnight Walk is finally here! Good luck to all the women taking part, it is going to be a great night and the atmosphere will be fantastic. Also, the weather forecast looks great so that's a bonus. Remember to dress to impress - some of you have opted for our party packs containing flashing necklaces and head boppers, others have their own ideas such as leg warmers, bunny ears and tutus, but anything goes. Don'f forget your barcode, which you will need to wear on the night. We will upload photos and video over the weekend and on Monday so check our website, Facebook page, Twitter and Youtube. The Evening Star will also have lots of photos from the night in Monday's paper.
Remembering Gran at the Midnight Walk Devoted granddaughter Tania Stacey will take part in St Elizabeth Hospice's Midnight Walk to remember her grandmother and the care she received. Tania will stride out with a group of friends and hopes to raise as much money as possible to "give something back to the Hospice."
Her grandmother Violet Goodall, of Ipswich, was a day care patient and later cared for on the in-patient unit, where she died in April 2009.
Tania said: "She was a very special lady and I feel privileged to have been her granddaughter. She was my world. I spent every weekend with her as a child, so you can imagine the bond I built up with her was a strong one. I looked up to her and admired her strength during her illness. I want to do the Midnight Walk in memory of grandma and hope she will be with me every step of the way, and to raise as much as I can for the place that made her life happy and more worthwhile - St Elizabeth Hospice. She loved the Hospice and said she wanted to die there."
Tania's group on the walk is called Dexys Midnight Walkers.
Local firm's "good" deed for Midnight Walk Nineteen staff from the Ipswich office of KPMG, volunteered time out of their working day to help St Elizabeth Hospice prepare for the Midnight Walk. Volunteers from the accountancy and business advisory firm spent the day at the Hospice, in Foxhall Road, Ipswich, packing 2,200 goody bags which will be handed out to all the walkers when they finish the ladies-only fundraising event on May 22nd.
Midnight Walk event organiser Emily Sullivan said: "We are extremely grateful for the help the staff from KPMG gave us. It was a huge task but they all pulled together and had some fun on the way. The Hospice is an independent charity which provides services free of charge and the support of local companies is vital".
Mum-of-two Emma, 31, who has lost three stone and gone from a size 20 to a size 14, will walk with her members plus two friends starting at 11.15pm. A number of Slimming World groups from Suffolk are taking part in the Midnight Walk this year as well as other diet and fitness groups. To sponsor Emma's group to do the Midnight Walk go to the Ravenswood Slimming World Facebook page. Picture shows (left to right): Members Melanie Pozo, Karen Oldman, consultant Emma Howells, Jan Simpson, Clara French and Gill Stanley. Making mum proud on the Midnight Walk
A 16 year old girl will do her mum proud when she takes part in the Midnight Walk. Justine, a 39-year-old mum to Jordan Hart, 18, Demii Hart, 16, and one-year-old Thea Budrey, has been diagnosed with terminal cancer.
Demii will walk with her auntie, Justine's sister, Donna Pilgrim, of Talmash Gardens, Ipswich, and they are braced for a fun but emotional night. Demii, of Leighton Road, Ipswich, explained that her mum was diagnosed with a rare cancer which affects just eight people a year in the UK. Doctors told her the devastating news in March 2009, not long after she had given birth to her third child Thea, who is now aged just one.
Demii, a pupil at Westbourne High School, said: "Mum had been in pain when she was pregnant but after Thea was born it didn't go away so she went to A&E where they discovered one of her kidneys had collapsed. Doctors think the cancer had been there for two years before they found it."
Justine got married to Sean in hospital on March 24 last year and is still undergoing chemotherapy. She has been told the cancer has spread to her liver and is terminal.
Donna, 47, said: "Justine is doing quite nicely at the moment, she is very strong. She has her bad days but gets on with it. We have not done the Midnight Walk before, we heard about it in the local paper and thought we would do it as it was a local cause and because of Justine and what she is going through."
Demii says her mum has given them her support to do the walk and the pair will dress up on the night. Melanie's moving Midnight Walk
The death of Melanie Hey's dad to Genetic CJD in itself was a hard blow to take.But the fact she and her siblings are now living with the prospect that they could also have the rare killer illness is never far from their minds. Melanie, 33, who is a nurse at Ipswich Hospital, explained that her father Alan Tong died in St Elizabeth Hospice on May 27th 2008 aged 63 within three months of him falling ill. She said: "Dad was retired and had started getting poorly at the beginning of 2008. We noticed in February things weren't quite right, he was getting forgetful, sleeping for long periods in the day and was quite confused." Tests did not show anything wrong until a while later when doctors at Ipswich Hospital diagnosed CJD (Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease). Alan had by this time deteriorated quickly and spent his last two weeks at St Elizabeth Hospice. After his death it was established it was the hereditary genetic strain of CJD not the sporadic strain as was first thought - which kills on average of just half a dozen affected people a year in the UK. This meant, in the midst of grieving, Melanie and her brothers Matthew and Roger were now facing the fact they could have the same gene and contract the illness at some point in their lives. Melanie, who lives in Ipswich said: "Matthew has since had the test and has the mutant gene E200K which means he could develop CJD in the future. People think CJD must have been caused by something dad ate (Bovine CJD), people don't always understand it could be genetic. Matthew does a lot of fundraising every year and has a six year old daughter so he is assisting the doctors in their research in finding a cure for the future." The rest of the family including Alan's widow Jan, and Matthew's wife Lisa, have also helped fundraise for research into CJD. But this year Melanie has decided to take part in St Elizabeth Hospice's Midnight Walk as well, with her friend Karen Elliott in a group called Midnight Chicks. Melanie said: "A friend on Facebook told me about the Midnight Walk and I thought it would be good to take part. The care St Elizabeth Hospice gave dad and the support it gave dad as a family was amazing and I wanted to give something back." Alan was a member of the East Suffolk Morris Men and members visited the Hospice while he was there and did a dance and played music for him. The family stayed at the Hospice all the time which they found a great comfort, Melanie said. She added: "We have pulled together as a family and supported each other. We would hate for other families to experience the traumas which we faced without the much needed assistance and support we received from St Elizabeth Hospice. The staff were fantastic." To sponsor Melanie do the Midnight Walk visit www.justgiving.com/midnightchicks In memory of mum Mandy When a grieving mother steps out for St Elizabeth Hospice's Midnight Walk, memories of her daughter will be in the forefront of her mind.
Melanie, 33, who is a nurse at Ipswich Hospital, explained that her father Alan Tong died in St Elizabeth Hospice on May 27th 2008 aged 63 within three months of him falling ill. She said: "Dad was retired and had started getting poorly at the beginning of 2008. We noticed in February things weren't quite right, he was getting forgetful, sleeping for long periods in the day and was quite confused."
Tests did not show anything wrong until a while later when doctors at Ipswich Hospital diagnosed CJD (Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease). Alan had by this time deteriorated quickly and spent his last two weeks at St Elizabeth Hospice.
After his death it was established it was the hereditary genetic strain of CJD not the sporadic strain as was first thought - which kills on average of just half a dozen affected people a year in the UK. This meant, in the midst of grieving, Melanie and her brothers Matthew and Roger were now facing the fact they could have the same gene and contract the illness at some point in their lives.
Melanie, who lives in Ipswich said: "Matthew has since had the test and has the mutant gene E200K which means he could develop CJD in the future. People think CJD must have been caused by something dad ate (Bovine CJD), people don't always understand it could be genetic. Matthew does a lot of fundraising every year and has a six year old daughter so he is assisting the doctors in their research in finding a cure for the future."
The rest of the family including Alan's widow Jan, and Matthew's wife Lisa, have also helped fundraise for research into CJD. But this year Melanie has decided to take part in St Elizabeth Hospice's Midnight Walk as well, with her friend Karen Elliott in a group called Midnight Chicks. Melanie said: "A friend on Facebook told me about the Midnight Walk and I thought it would be good to take part. The care St Elizabeth Hospice gave dad and the support it gave dad as a family was amazing and I wanted to give something back."
Alan was a member of the East Suffolk Morris Men and members visited the Hospice while he was there and did a dance and played music for him. The family stayed at the Hospice all the time which they found a great comfort, Melanie said. She added: "We have pulled together as a family and supported each other. We would hate for other families to experience the traumas which we faced without the much needed assistance and support we received from St Elizabeth Hospice. The staff were fantastic."
To sponsor Melanie do the Midnight Walk visit www.justgiving.com/midnightchicks
In memory of mum Mandy When a grieving mother steps out for St Elizabeth Hospice's Midnight Walk, memories of her daughter will be in the forefront of her mind.
For Margaret Fish will be taking part in the fundraising night-time walk in memory of her daughter Mandy Emms, who died last July leaving her son Jacob, aged just two, and husband Neil. The walk on Saturday May 22nd will be all the more poignant as it is the day after what would have been Mandy's 38th birthday.
Mandy battled primary cancer an unusual five times from the age of nine but always tried to live life to the full. She attended Cliff Lane Primary School, Ipswich High School, was a Cub Scout akela in Ipswich, a keen chorister and a devoted wife and mother.
Margaret, of Bramford, said: "She had bone cancer in her femur when she was nine and her leg amputated. She had to face intensive chemotherapy but when it was over was determined just to get on with her life. She didn't want to be treated differently."
When she was aged 17, another primary bone cancer was found in her knee and she had a major knee replacement, when she was 24 she had breast cancer and a mastectomy and at the age of 31 her other breast was removed. In spite of all her medical problems Margaret said Mandy was a happy and positive person, loved and admired by all who knew her. Mandy married Neil, who works for BT at Martlesham, in 2000. They thought they could not have children but to their surprise and joy she fell pregnant in 2006. However, in 2008 when Jacob was a year old, Mandy was diagnosed with a tumour in her kidney which spread into a major blood vessel. She stayed at St Elizabeth Hospice several times for symptom control and pain relief and her family visited all the time. It was there that she died.
Margaret said: "We used to take Jacob in to visit and he would sit on her lap and she would read him a story. The staff and volunteers were fantastic. Mandy was a lovely mother; now when Jacob says something funny or does something for the first time it is always tinged with sadness as Mandy can't be there to share it." Margaret will be walking with Mandy's sister Rachel Hemingway, sister-in-law Lara Emms and family friends Justine Hard and Mary Crown. Lara, 38, of Ipswich said: "Mandy was an inspirational person and she has inspired us to do the Midnight Walk."
Event organiser Emily Sullivan said: "There will be many people like Margaret and Lara who will be remembering a loved one at the Midnight Walk as well as those who want a fun, rewarding challenge. There are still places left and we would urge women to sign up as soon as possible." 1,500 women sign up for the Midnight Walk
More than 1,500 women have now signed up to St Elizabeth Hospice's Midnight Walk. The figure has just been reached and it means the ladies-only circular walk, which takes place at night on Saturday May 22nd from Ipswich Town Football Club in Portman Road, is well on the way to being a huge success. There are still plenty of spaces up for grabs and organisers hope the event will raise £250,000 for the Hospice, which provides specialist care for people throughout East Suffolk. Organiser Emily Sullivan said: "We are hoping as many women as possible will sign up this month. Mums in particular may have a bit more time during the Easter school holidays to get round to signing up and we would love to have them on board. It's going to be a great girls' night out." Visit www.midnightwalkipswich or call 01473 707043.
Sixty super slimmers sign up for Midnight Walk
Over 60 slimmers from the Rosemary Conley Diet & Fitness Club have signed up for the Midnight Walk 2010. Kay Fletcher, Franchisee for the Ipswich Rosemary Conley Diet & Fitness Club, will be taking part, along with over 60 of her members. Last year was the first time Kay and her members took part in the Midnight Walk and they now hope to make this a regular event in their annual fundraising. Kay said: " Many members see this as a challenge and a worthwhile goal to work towards and something that they may not have been able to do before they joined a Rosemary Conley Diet & Fitness Club and lost weight. Also, some of our members have had a family member or a close friend cared for by St Elizabeth Hospice and feel they want to give something back". There are 20 Rosemary Conley Diet & Fitness classes running throughout the Ipswich, Martlesham and Kesgrave areas and there are members from each of the classes taking part. Last year, as a group, they raised over £6,500 for St Elizabeth Hospice and this year they hope to raise even more.
1000 women sign up for Midnight Walk More than 1,000 women have now signed up to St Elizabeth Hospice's Midnight Walk. The milestone was reached just over a month after registration for the huge fundraising event was launched. The ladies-only circular walk takes place at night on Saturday May 22nd from Ipswich Town Football Club in Portman Road. There are still plenty of spaces up for grabs and organisers hope the event will raise £250,000 for the Hospice, which provides specialist care for people throughout East Suffolk. Organiser Emily Sullivan said: "It is not too late to sign up and we would love to see as many women as possible there on the night." Determined Midnight Walker receives boost from footballers
A woman who has breast cancer is determined to take part in St Elizabeth Hospice's Midnight Walk even though it will take place a month after she has had a mastectomy. Julie Collis, 42, was diagnosed with breast cancer last October and has had the tumour removed and chemotherapy. However in April she is due to have a mastectomy and will undergo a course of radiotherapy treatment. Despite this, just weeks later, on Saturday, May 22nd she is determined to be well enough to take part in the ladies-only St Elizabeth Hospice's fundraising Midnight Walk. Julie, of Glenhurst Avenue, Ipswich, said: "I was diagnosed, ironically, in Breast Cancer Awareness month after I found a dimple, not a lump. Not many people know to look for a dimple so I was surprised. Some weeks are better than others and the chemotherapy has left me feeling drained and losing my hair was quite upsetting, but also liberating. I am determined to do the Midnight Walk this year with my friends as it is such a good fun night and it's a worthwhile cause. I am a positive person, there are people a lot worse off than me. I will beat this cancer." The event will start and finish from Ipswich Town Football Club and because Julie is a big fan of the team, players have been supporting her with her challenge.She was invited to meet players at the Portman Road ground and they gave her messages to spur her on. Julie, whose favourite player is Damien Delaney, said: "It was great to come and meet the players and they have spurred me on even more to make sure I finish the Midnight Walk. It will be a good fun night and a great way of supporting St Elizabeth Hospice." Ipswich Town defender, Damien Delaney said: " I'm really impressed that Julie is determined to participate in St Elizabeth Hospice's Midnight Walk this May. We're all backing her to get through this difficult time so that she is fit enough to take part.I visited the Hospice just before Christmas and think the work it does is incredible and I hope that loads of people sign up for the walk, whether as participants or as volunteers." Picture right: Julie meeting Ipswich Town players Carlos Edwards & Damien Delaney To sponsor Julie visit www.justgiving.com/julie-helen