FUNDRAISERS plan to ‘paint the town neon’ for a good cause this September.

Kate Chapman, her son Harry, and brother Mark Robson will be leading a group of neon clad walkers around York to raise money for St Leonard’s Hospice.

This is in honour of her father, Richard Robson, who died in 2020, aged 67, after a short stay at the hospice and being cared for by its home team.

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Kate said: “It’s so important to raise the money needed to fund the hospice, as well as raise awareness of the work that they do. There is so much camaraderie during the walk as many people have been through something similar.”

She believes that her walk will probably be ‘super quick’ as her brother, Mark, is very competitive and ‘likes to get a stride on’ with the siblings finishing the seven-mile route in two hours last year. She has raised nearly £900 to date and invites anyone wishing to sponsor her again to do so on her Just Giving page.

The walk itself is set to take place on Saturday, September 14, setting off at 9pm from the hospice at Tadcaster Road, York. Check in is from 7pm with live entertainment, an interactive warm-up, games, and stalls offering sweets and hot drinks to walkers and their loved ones.

Walkers will get the chance to ‘paint the town neon’ and join friends and family for a glow-themed, seven-mile circular route of York. Wearing anything neon and glowing, every walker will receive a branded T-shirt, with prizes awarded for the best dressed.

The event helps fund care delivered by St Leonard’s Hospice which supports people with life-limiting illness, their families and friends. The hospice also supports people dealing with bereavement.

Last year, the event raised a whopping £36,000 in the biggest Moonlight Walk event ever, with more than 500 people turning out to take part in the annual event.

James Wainwright, head of fundraising at St Leonard's Hospice, said: “Last year’s walk was the best ever, so let’s try to top that this year with even more people. The more people sign up, the more funds we can bring in to support our vital work.

“We rely on the generosity of the public to fund our hospice, and so each year we want as many people as possible to take part so we can continue to support people living with a life-limiting illness.”

The free Moonlight Walk T-shirts have been sponsored by Clifton Park Hospital, part of Ramsay Health Care UK.

Sandra Donoghue, Hospital Director at Clifton Park Hospital, said: “As part of Ramsay Health Care UK, St Leonard's Hospice is an organisation very dear to our hearts and supporting this year's Moonlight Walk is a meaningful way for us to show our appreciation and contribute to a cause that provides care and support for many people in our community.

“We very much look forward to being part of this memorable event."

Walkers who sign up receive the St Leonard’s branded shirt. You can find out more and buy tickets here: Buy tickets – Moonlight Walk 2024 – Starting at St Leonard's Hospice (tickettailor.com)