Zoe Ball & Martlets Midnight Walk

Walk the walk

Next month Martlets Midnight Walk sets off to raise vital funds for the local hospice

It’s back – the biggest girls’ night out of the year, Martlets Midnight Walk, is on Friday 13 June 2014. Now in its eighth year, the Midnight Walk has raised over a million pounds to enable Martlets nurses to care for local people living with terminal illness. As the hospice has to raise £9,000 a day to run its services the money generated by sponsorship on the Midnight Walk is vital and every single walker makes a difference.


Zoe Ball continues to support the event after her stepfather Rick was cared for by the Hospice in 2012. “I had heard about the Martlets but it was only when my dear stepfather Rick was diagnosed with MND in 2012 that I witnessed firsthand the importance of the wonderful work done by all the staff there. Sadly Rick passed away in December 2012 and I can’t express enough gratitude to all the marvellous doctors, nurses and support staff at the Martlets; their care for Rick was incredible and they provided our family with the thoughtful loving and supportive care we needed. The work they do is so important and I wouldn’t hesitate to lend my wholehearted support to their fundraising to help other families in their hour of need.” 

“It’s all about dressing up and spending a night walking through Brighton with friends”

Although, many women do the walk because they have a personal connection to the Hospice, others get involved to enjoy a night out with friends, or, for a personal challenge. Last year the youngest participants were just 13 and the oldest was Eileen Wilson (pictured) who, at 99, was taking part in her first ever fundraising event!

The biggest team last year was Jude’s Gems, inspired and set up by Jude Stokes, a young nurse at the Royal Alexandra Hospital who was diagnosed with stomach cancer. Unfortunately, Jude passed away at the Hospice in August but her inspiration lives on as Jude’s Gems are back to honour Jude’s wish, made following last year’s event: “ I’m so grateful to Jude’s Gems for their commitment and determination to get through the walk. Thanks to the wonderful Martlets for all you do for me and my family. PS Hopefully Jude’s Gems will come back year after year even though I can’t.” 

The Midnight Walk always has a great atmosphere as hundreds of women take to the streets of Brighton complete with flashing bunny ears, cowboy hats and face paint. Dressing up for the Midnight Walk is entirely optional, but for many planning their outfit is all part of the fun. 

Choose either a 6 or 13 mile walk. Both walks start at midnight from Brighton Racecourse and snake through Brighton & Hove. Marshalls are on hand to ensure no one gets lost and the walk ends with a tasty breakfast. 
Antonia Shepherd, who organises the event, said: “It’s absolutely not about how quickly you can finish the walk, this isn’t a race. For most Midnight Walkers it’s all about dressing up and spending a night walking through Brighton with friends. It’s a girls’ night out really, supporting a local charity.

A lot of the women who take part in the walk are doing it in memory of someone who has died. Others may not have used the hospice services themselves but the walk can be an important way of supporting friends who have lost someone.” 

So, sign up for the Martlets Hospice’s Midnight Walk and join hundreds of women, from all walks of life, who come together to have fun whilst raising money for this vital local charity.  

To enter visit www.themartlets.org.uk/midnight, pick up a form at any Martlets shop
or call the Fundraising Department on 01273 747455.