Teams that walk together work well together!

It has long been recognised that colleagues who undertake social activities together build an understanding that transfers directly into benefits in the workplace and an opportunity for your team to do so is now on the horizon.

May 11 is the date for this year’s award winning St Elizabeth Hospice Midnight Walk which will once again start and finish at Trinity Park. 2018 was a record year for the event with over £230,000 raised and nearly 2,500 participants. This year to celebrate the hospice’s 30^th anniversary a target of 3,000 has been set and appeals are being made to those who have walked before to do it again and to those who have not yet taken part to get on board for the first time.

As in previous years there will be a choice of routes, six and ten miles, and a party atmosphere is guaranteed with a theme of ‘rewind to the 80s’ reflecting when the hospice first opened. ‘Rewind to the 80’s’ also builds on the neon and sparkle themes from the previous two years so you can expect a riot of colour and big hair!

Felicity Rook head of fundraising commented “Midnight walk is a vital night in the hospice’s events calendar. It costs over £200,000 to deliver a week’s care so the money is very important, but it is also an opportunity for the community to visibly come together in support of the hospice. Some people have very personal connections with the hospice and walk in memory of loved ones; others just know it is a great cause that wouldn’t be able to offer the same levels of care without their ongoing support.”

One company that got involved last year was Copdock based digital marketing specialists Itineris. Rechenda Smith from Itineris told us “We love getting involved with the Midnight Walk. Not only do we get to raise money for an amazing local cause, it also provides us with the key team-building highlight of our year. We train together, fundraise together and walk together. On the night itself, there is a fantastic atmosphere which makes all the miles really worthwhile. The walk, along with the hospice’s RideFest cycle event, invigorates us to keep up our fitness throughout the year and is great for our team spirit.”

Taking advantage of the hospice’s early bird booking offer entry costs just £10 per person until January 30 after which the price increases to £15 per person. To find out how you can get involved visit www.stelizabethhospice.org.uk/midnightwalk

If you prefer your exercise sitting down the hospice have a number of cycling challenges. The first is Ridefest which is a static bike inter-company challenge taking place in late February and early March and the second in September when up to 50 cyclists will take on the epic Venice to Rome route finishing at the iconic Colosseum.  There will be an information evening at the hospice on January 30. To find out more about these events visit www.stelizabethhospice.org.uk/venicetorome or www.stelizabethhoswpice.org.uk/ridefest

Photo credit – St. Elizabeth Hospice.