Manchester Midnight Walk returns to the city's streets for 2022

Some of the 1,000 people who attended the last Midnight Walk at Manchester Cathedral in 2019. Pic: Chris Bull

Hundreds of people from across Greater Manchester will be hitting the city’s streets for the return of the Manchester Midnight Walk this May – the first time the event has been able to take place in the city centre since 2019.

For 15 years, generous Mancunians have been gathering together to see their city in the moonlight whilst raising money for St Ann’s Hospice, with funds generated by sponsorship totalling more than £2million for the charity.

But, for the last two years organisers have been forced to cancel the event due to covid restrictions, with a virtual-only event taking place instead.

The 10km sponsored walk, which will set off from Manchester Cathedral at midnight on the evening of Friday, May 20, passes many of the city’s landmarks, with entertainment on route ensuring participants have a fun-packed evening while raising money for Manchester’s hospice.

This year’s event is sponsored by Betfred, who have supported St Ann’s for many years.

Rachel McMillan, Chief Executive of St Ann’s, said: “I’m so excited that the Manchester Midnight Walk can be back in the city centre where it belongs again this year. It’s such an important event in our annual calendar and we’ve had supporters saying how much they’ve missed it during the pandemic.

“It’s a way for people to gather together and celebrate this amazing city, and there is always such a fantastic atmosphere on the night. Some people take part in honour of a loved one, while others simply join us for a fun evening raising money for a local cause.

“We’d love as many people as possible to join us and help us really celebrate the return of the Manchester Midnight Walk in style.”

Walkers can take part on their own, or in a group and will also be welcomed into Manchester Cathedral for a pre-midnight party, complete with entertainment, dancing, DJ and live music. There’s also an opportunity to reflect on the lives of loved ones with special memory lanterns which can be lit at the Cathedral before the Walk.

For those unable to attend on May 20, the hospice is also offering people the opportunity to take part in the Manchester Virtual Walk, a challenge which offers participants the chance to choose their own date in May to complete a 10km walk.

The virtual walk can be done at any time and place supporters wish, with some choosing to walk 1km a day for 10 days, some 10km in one go, or others 10km a day for a set period of time. The challenge can be fully flexible and tailored to fit the individual’s own preferences, location and pace.

Rachel added: “As a charity, our teams have been working extremely hard throughout the pandemic to ensure local people have been able to access specialist palliative and end of life care when they’ve needed it most.

“Fundraising has been challenging, with many events like the Midnight Walk cancelled or adapted, so we’re hugely grateful to local people who have been thinking of us and helping us raise money to keep our services running.

“We need to fundraise around £20,000 a day to do that, so every penny raised at events like the Manchester Midnight Walk really does make a difference to the lives of local people. Please do sign up if you can – we’d love to see you there.”

Participants will receive a free fundraising pack and yellow t-shirt to don during their walk, and will also be sent an exclusive medal on completion.

Signs ups can be made on the website or by calling 0161 498 3631, or emailing events@sah.org.uk

St Ann’s Hospice supports patients and those closest to them. The hospice is one of the oldest hospices outside of London, and celebrated its 50th anniversary last year.

They care for people with life-limiting illnesses from its three sites in Heald Green in Stockport, Greater Manchester, Little Hulton in Salford, Greater Manchester, and The Neil Cliffe Centre in Wythenshawe Hospital, in Wythenshawe, Greater Manchester, as well as via a range of community and outreach services.

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