Getting fit for midnight walk

1:54pm Wednesday 6th August 2008

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Members of the therapy team of the Princess Alice Hospice in Esher have been building up their fitness following their registration for the hospice’s first Midnight Walk.

The charity walk, which takes place on Saturday, September 6, and is open to men and women, will take in the streets of Richmond, Kew and Twickenham.

As well as raising money for the hospice, it also hopes the event will raise awareness of its work across Surrey and south-west London.

The therapy team decided to get in on the action and walk the 13.1 mile challenge under the name “Team GNO” and their manager Kathy Birch said it would set a good example to their patients.

She said: “Exercise and keeping fit is beneficial for everyone and the team thought that by taking part in the walk we could lead by example and encourage our patients to complete their exercises.

“The specialist therapy team is essential to the programme of care provided by the hospice.

“We work with patients in the specially built therapy room at the hospice and out in the community with patients in their homes.

“The team provides physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy and its aim is to help maintain every patient’s independence within the limits of their condition.”

The Midnight Walk starts at midnight at Pools in the Park health club in Richmond, where it also ends as dawn breaks on Sunday morning. It is open to anyone over the age of 14 and the closing date for registration (subject to entries received prior to this date) is Friday, August 8.

Entry is £15 and there is no minimum sponsorship.