Southern Area Hospice Services is celebrating 20 years of Hospice care in the community. To mark this milestone, we are inviting everyone to participate in the inaugural Hospice Midnight Walk on Saturday 22nd August 2009.

 This fun-filled event will kick off at Newry City Football Club, where it is hoped a sea of supporters will flood Newry city in support of Southern Area Hospice.

Local Five FM radio personality Paul McKenna will warm up walkers before they set off with music and craic from 11pm. The 10km route around Newry City has been designed to be a fun and easy way for everyone to raise money. The registration fee is £10 for this fun filled and historic event, and we ask that participants raise minimum sponsorship of £100.

The event is proudly sponsored by A1 Safety and WorkWear, Newry who will be providing each participant with a high visibility jacket on the night, which they can wear after the event, when they are training for the next Midnight Walk!

The event is opened to Men and Women of all fitness abilities. Under 16’s must be accompanied by an adult. Why not dress up for the event? The wackier the better!! Get your family, friends and work colleagues involved.

Participants can also choose to do the walk in memory of a loved one. Majella Gollogly, Hospice fundraising manager said: "The Midnight Walk is a new event for us, and we're hoping it will be a big success. We would love to see as many people as possible turn out for this event, in aid of Southern Area Hospice. We are inviting everyone to lace up, and take the Midnight Walk in their stride!’

Pat Jennings, patron of the Hospice was on hand to help fundraising staff get in training for the 10km walk. His advice to everyone is ‘Get in touch with Southern Area Hospice and sign up for the Midnight Walk, which I'm sure will be great fun and a great way of raising funds." For the Wiz Kidz – why not build your own fundraising page on www.justgiving.com – that way people can log onto your page anywhere in the world and support you doing the Hospice Midnight Walk 2009 – and all the money is automatically donated to Southern Area Hospice Services. Each participant must register before Friday 14th August 2009.

There will be no registration on the night. For a registration pack, please contact Rachel Quinn or Fiona McQuade at the Fundraising Office on 028 3025 1333, or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it / This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ENDS Notes to editor: Photograph of Pat Jennings with Rachel Quinn and Fiona Stephens of Southern Area Hospice. Contact: Rachel Quinn / Fiona McQuade, Fundraising Office 028 3025 1333.