700 Step Out Through the Night for St Catherine’s Hospice

News and Blog

On Saturday (6 June) 700 amazing supporters took to the streets of Horsham walking through the night to raise an incredible £150,000 for St Catherine’s Hospice as part of our flagship Midnight Walk event.

Walkers chose from 2, 7, 13 or 17-mile routes, all starting and finishing at The Bridge Leisure Centre in Broadbridge Heath and passing through Horsham town centre. Along the way, our dedicated volunteers lined the route, offering enthusiastic encouragement that kept spirits high and helped walkers push on through the night.

Wearing glitter, face paint, light-up boppers and orange tutus, our supporters stepped out under the stars for an illuminating night of fun. Many people walked in memory of someone close to them and a poignant memory wall at the start was filled with precious photos and heartfelt tributes to loved ones. A reflective area at Horsham Park’s bandstand provided another moment of remembrance, where walkers wrote special messages and lit candles for loved ones.

At the end of their walk, challengers were cheered across the finish line and given a medal before enjoying a celebratory breakfast with a glass of prosecco.

Tracy took part for the third time and completed the seven-mile route for the hospice. When asked what motivated her to take part, she said, “I have known family and friends that have been looked after by the hospice so it’s incredibly important to me to raise money for this.

“It feels like one big family when you take part, everybody’s here for the same reason and the atmosphere is amazing. I have been taking part with a friend and we’ve had a good natter along the way and we have raised over 300% of our initial fundraising target.

It doesn’t matter what fitness level you are or how many miles you walk, you know that every penny you raise goes to this amazing charity, and it’s such a fun thing to do. Everybody should do it!“

St Catherine’s Event Fundraiser, Emma Butler, who led this year’s Midnight Walk said, “We are incredibly grateful to our community for coming together and walking through the night in support of St Catherine’s. It was truly inspiring to see 700 people taking part, many walking in memory of loved ones cared for by the hospice.

There was an amazing sense of positivity and shared purpose throughout the night, and it was moving to witness our supporters take on this challenge to help fund our vital end of life care.

We’d also like to extend a heartfelt thank you to our dedicated volunteers. We had over 190 volunteers on the night who played such an important role in making the event run smoothly. Whether they were providing refreshments, guiding walkers along the route or welcoming participants, this event simply couldn’t have taken place without them.”