Leeds Midnight Walk in aid of St Gemma's Hospice

Hi everyone!


Saturday night was the Leeds Midnight Walk in aid of St Gemma's Hospice, and my little sister Kaila and I took part along with literally thousands of other ladies, in a women - only Midnight Walk in order to raise money for the Hospice which is respite for terminally ill cancer patients.
As the name suggests, the walk starts at midnight, and participants choose which of the two walks they wanted to do, either the 6 or the 12 mile route. Kaila and I had decided that we wanted to walk the 12 mile route in memory of our late Nan (in for a penny!) and we went to register at Headingley Carnegie Stadium at 10pm as instructed, to get our registered walk number :)

As we were there two hours before the start time, once we had all gotten our numbers, we headed over to the 'entertainment room' where they were stalls selling fancy dress items for the walk, raffles, Real Radio, a St Gemma's information stall, a live band, and a lovely lady doing face painting - so of course me and Kaila got in the massive queue to get our faces done!

Kaila went for a white tiger, and I fancied a neon butterfly:

Just before midnight, everyone had to do a warm up, and it involved a room full of women doing the silliest dancing you have ever seen! great fun!

The atmosphere was amazing as we all piled outside ready for the off, and everyone was taking turns getting their photo's next to the start line, so I was pleased to have gotten our picture on the way in!!

Both routes started the same, with everyone walking together (all 1000 of us!) from Headingley Stadium, down Kirkstall Lane, then along Abbey Road as far as Hawksworth Road, where the Six mile walkers turned off. Those of us walking the 12 mile route carried on up New Road Side, past the Esso garage and turned onto Broadway and carried on to the West Park Centre.

 West Park Centre marked the half-way point for the 12 mile walkers, and we all checked in for a well deserved (and needed!) hot drink and snack (snickers, mars bars and bananas were on offer :) before turning around and walking all the way back!

Surprisingly, we managed to keep up the same pace on the way back, and actually hit our (personal) target, and completed the 12 mile walk in four hours :)

When we arrived back at the stadium, we were greeted with a medal and certificate for completing the walk!

 

Each walker also received a goodie bag (containing a floral cup (!?) a cinnamon swirl pastry, sweeties, panda pops bottled water, Real Radio sticker, and lots of lovely bits and bobs :)

When I called a taxi to come and collect us to take us home, I was told there were non available for at least 50-60 mins, so after a sit down, a coffee and our breakfast pastry, Kaila and I decided to walk home, resulting in us walking an extra mile, taking the total to 13 miles in a few hours!

Kaila and I are still collecting sponsors, so will let u know the grand total once we have collected and totalled it all up (although if anyone still wishes to donate, please let me know!)

We had great fun, everyone (including the fantastic walk guides, volunteers, and staff, who were all amazing, offering encouragement every step of the way) were in great spirits, and Kaila and I were really proud to be raising money for such a great cause, and we hope to do it all again next year!

Spring Swap & Midnight Walk

Hi everyone!

I thought I would do a bit of an 'update' post, about what im upto at the minute, and what I will be doing over the next few weeks :)

Firstly, Im ridiculously excited to be involved in Jackie  at Sew Special Bears Spring Makes Me Sing Swap, with the idea being that you get partnered with another blogger, you then email each other likes/dislikes ect, and then go shopping for lots of lovely little bits and bobs for your 'swap-ee!' which you then post within an agreed time :)
I have been partnered with the lovely Lynda/LaaLaa from hookinwithlaalaa, which is fantastic, as we have a lot of shared tastes, so im sure im in for some lovely treats!

Because Lynda is a follower of my blog, I can't share any of the swap idea's I have in mind for her, sadly, but I will take a pic and show you what I send after the swap, I really can't wait!
(check out both these ladies blog's, they are lovely reading :)

Secondly, My little sister Kaila and I, along with a work colleague of mine, have signed up for the Leeds Midnight Walk in aid of St Gemma's Hospice, which is held on May 14th at 12am at the Leeds Rhino's Headingley Stadium, Leeds. (click the link for more details, or how to enter)

The aim of the ladies-only sponsored walk, is obviously to raise money for St Gemma's Hospice - a hospice that provides specialist medical and nursing care for the terminally ill, (predominantly cancer patients) along with support for their families.
The walk is just one of many fundraing events for St Gemma's Hospice, (click the above link for details of other ways to raise money)

Participants doing this event can choose to walk either a 6 mile route, or a 12 mile one.
My sister and I have decided to go for the 12 mile route, which starts and ends in Headingley, with the route basically going round in a massive circle. 
We have around 77 days to go before the event, to train and get fit, and we have our 'lovely' yellow t-shirts all ready for training :/

As well as the walk being a fantastic get-fit incentive, I hope to raise as much money for the charity as possible, so I have just set up an official Virgin MoneyGiving online donation page here, which is recommended by the charity, so if anyone is kind enough to donate, please feel free to do so, any amount at all is hugely welcome  :)

Im really pleased and honoured to be involved in raising money for such a great cause as I, along with thousands of people, have known or lost a close family member/loved one to cancer, and any organisation that helps in easing the stress and pain of the patients last few months (as well as helping the family come to terms with their loss) is well deserving of donations, in my opinion.

I will, of course, keep you all updated on our training progress, and running total of donations.

Are YOU doing a Midnight Walk event where you live? Or any other fundraising for charity event?