Charity’s final Midnight Walk is a record-breaker

Over 800 men, women and children lit up the streets of Aylesbury through the night on Saturday with bunny ears and fairy lights as they took to the streets for the final Midnight Walk for Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity.

This was a record-breaking number of Walkers for the charity on one of the warmest nights the event has seen.

“After a two year break it was fantastic to see so many of our supporters able to come together again, to walk and to volunteer.  The sight of hundreds of flashing bunny ears outside Buckinghamshire College is one I will not forget. It was a night which brought the whole community came together to raise funds to support local patients and their families,” says Lee Lloyd, Head of Fundraising.

Lynne Fountain completed the five mile route in memory of her husband Terry, who passed away recently in the Hospice.  “I have taken part in the Walk many times before, but this year it was such an emotional night.  I can never thank the team at the Hospice enough for all the support they gave to us during and after my husband’s illness. The Walk was a way for me to raise funds for the amazing Florence Nightingale team and I look forward to participating in whatever challenge comes along next year.”

The record number of walkers means this could be the biggest fundraising night in the charity’s history.  The Walkers have already raised over £70,000, well on their way to the target of £90,000 for the event.

“This one night will help us fund almost a whole month of hospice services, giving patients and their families the care and support they need, both in the Hospice and out in their homes across Buckinghamshire and its borders,” said Jo Turner, the charity’s CEO. “We are so grateful to everyone who helped us make this event possible, to our sponsors, Buckinghamshire Freemasons, to our amazing volunteers, over 100 of them, and all those local businesses who have donated goods or time to entertain and feed our Walkers.”

Earlier this year the charity confirmed that this would be the final Midnight Walk. “It was an emotional night, saying goodbye to a longstanding and much loved event.  But we will be back next year with something new and more accessible to bring our supporters and our community together again,” said Claire Redrup, Public Fundraising Manager.

You can still donate online at https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/MidnightwalkforFlorence2022