Faqs 
The Walk
Why can only women take part?
St Luke’s Midnight Walk invites women of all ages and fitness levels to join together to help raise funds for their local hospice. Most women will know a family member or friend who has been affected by cancer or other life threatening illnesses. There is something very special about a group of women joining together for a common cause. If men would like to get involved they are welcome to help as marshals, or volunteer to help with registration and breakfast.
How long is the route?
The route is 9 miles. There will be rest points and water stations regularly along the route. Please see the map for further details. A map of the route will be handed to every walker on the night, along with emergency numbers.
Where does the route go?
The walk will start and finish at Harrow Leisure Centre, Christchurch Avenue, Harrow, HA3 5BD.
The route will be clearly signed posted and there will plenty of marshals to show you the way!
Will it be safe?
Your safety is of the utmost importance to us. The event has been organised in conjunction with the Harrow & Brent police. The route will be heavily marshalled by marshals from event company RSVP, St Luke’s volunteers and Spectrum 100 Ambulance Service will be available along the route for the duration of the walk. We would encourage you to walk with a friend. If you are not walking in a group please visit the ‘buddy group’ table on the night, where you can make friends with other walkers who’d like to walk in a group.
How long will it take?
The walk will take approximately 2 hours for a fit walker but there is no rush and we encourage walkers to go at their own pace. There will be lead walkers and walking marshals as well as people at the end of the walk to ensure the last participants return safely.
On the night…
Where is the registration point and what time can we register?
Registration will take place in Byron Hall at Harrow Leisure Centre from 10:30pm. Please do not arrive any earlier. Enter though the main doors to the Leisure Centre and you will be directed to the hall. Please have your Walker Number with you, you will need it to register. Once you have registered we will be asking all ladies to wait in the hall area where the welcome and warm up will take place.
Why do I have to register again at the end of the walk?
Registering at the end ensures that everyone is accounted for. This way we will know if anybody is lost or missing. If you leave the walk early you must advise a member of the RSVP marshal team, who will be wearing high visibility jackets, or a volunteer at one of the rest stops.
What if I can not complete the 9 mile route?
There will be 3 rest points along the way, as well as the team of marshals patrolling the route. Should anyone decide they can not complete the full route there will be a support vehicle to bring the walkers back to Harrow Leisure Centre.
Do you have any minimum or maximum age limits for the walkers?
There is no minimum age, but walkers under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. There is no maximum age but we advise you to only take part if you are in good medical health.
On the day, if a member of my family or a friend decides to walk with me can they join walk?
Registration is now CLOSED! There will be no space for registration on the evening. If a friend of family member would like to be involved they can do so as a volunteer. In this case please email their details to midnightwalk@stlukes-hospice.org.
Do I need to train for the event?
It is advisable that you prepare yourself for the walk, especially if you are not accustomed to walking long distances. Some people find brisk 15-30min walks during the weeks leading to the event help limber up the joints. Please see the Training Schedule part of this Walker Pack.
Do I need special footwear or clothing?
We recommend that you wear comfortable clothing and well fitting, sturdy footwear (preferably trainers). Please make sure you wear your pink Midnight Walk t-shirt as your top layer so that there will be a sea of pink women, it’s a wonderful sight! Wearing your t-shirt also allows our marshals to recognise you and provide appropriate support if you need it. The walk will not be sheltered so you may need to bring some wet weather gear too. If you are walking in memory of someone please also bring along your In Memory sheet so we can pin this onto your t-shirt. Pins will be provided on the night!
Can I wear fancy dress?
Please feel free to dress up. This will really add to the fun of the night! The only thing we ask is that we can see your pink t-shirt. There will be a prize for the best fancy dress individual or team so think pink! On the night there will be pink promotional items on sale to add to the fun.
Will there be any refreshments?
We suggest you bring water, but there will be refreshments and water at the mid point and a light breakfast at the end of the route.
Will there be parking on the night?
There is parking at Harrow Leisure Centre, we recommend where possible that participants share cars to the start point. There will be a marshal at the entrance of the parking area (off Christchurch Avenue) who will then direct cars to the correct area.
Are there any lockers at the venue?
Yes, the changing rooms and lockers at Harrow Leisure Centre will be available for the use of all walkers.
Are there toilets?
There are rest points, as well as a few toilet stops along the way.
Sponsorship
How much sponsorship do I have to raise?
We do not ask for a minimum amount of sponsorship, but remember every pound you raise will go towards helping St Luke’s Hospice care for local people with cancer and other terminal illnesses.
How long do I have to collect my sponsored donations?
Please try and collect your sponsorship as soon as possible after the walk. This way it easier for you to collect the money from your sponsors. Please deliver all sponsorship to St Luke’s Hospice no later than 31st October 2009.
If I don't manage to complete the walk what do I do about my sponsors?
If sponsors have committed to donate "per mile" then you could collect a pro-rata donation. Alternatively contact your sponsors and leave it up to them to make a decision about whether they will go ahead with the sponsorship.
Who is eligible to tick the Gift Aid box?
If the person sponsoring you is a UK taxpayer, or pays Capital Gains Tax, then you can make the donation worth even more. For every £1 you give to us, we can claim an extra 28p.
Is there any other way I can support the event/hospice?
If you are walking it would be a great help if you could spread the word about the event e.g. your place of work, amongst family & friends, and neighbours. They could either join the walk or volunteer for some of the event preparation tasks or help out on the night.
I can't find answer to my question, what do I do?
If your question has not been answered, you can visit our website at www.stlukesmidnightwalk.org, email midnightwalk@stlukes-hospice.org, or call 020 8382 8023.
