AFTER the success of the first-ever Grove House Midnight Walk last year, a date for an even bigger and better event has now been confirmed. It will be held on Saturday, June 28, and Grove House, the St Albans day hospice, is hoping for 1,000 women to take

AFTER the success of the first-ever Grove House Midnight Walk last year, a date for an even bigger and better event has now been confirmed.

It will be held on Saturday, June 28, and Grove House, the St Albans day hospice, is hoping for 1,000 women to take part this year.

The walk starts at midnight from St Michael's parish centre on the edge of the park and is a 10-mile circular route around the streets of St Albans.

The Midnight Walk is a women-only event and a perfect opportunity to join together with friends, colleagues and family members across the generations alongside 1,000 other women.

By walking together they will be helping to raise much-needed funds for Grove House knowing that each step taken over such a challenging distance will help to make a huge difference to local people.

Walking is regarded as one of the most effective and safest ways for women of all ages, abilities, shapes and sizes to increase overall health and fitness levels. Now is the perfect time for women to challenge themselves to take part in it.

The Midnight Walk is aiming to get 1,000 women to help raise more than £100,000. All the women taking part will be asked to help Grove House benefit from that sum by getting as many people as possible to sponsor them.

The aim is to swap pounds for £s for Grove House and have fun as well.

Grove House supports people in St Albans, Harpenden and Hemel Hempstead and their families living with cancer or life-threatening illness. It is developing new services in the area to include a 24-hour, seven-days-a-week, hospice-at-home service.

Paul Parrish, fundraising director for Grove House, said: "The Midnight Walk was one of the highlights of 2007. Everyone seemed to be having such fun and the feeling of solidarity among the women taking part was fantastic.

"As one of the few men there I felt quite jealous that I wasn't allowed to walk. This is what good fundraising is about, people having fun while helping to change the community they live in. I can't wait for June 28."

You can sign up now by picking up one of the Midnight Walk leaflets that will be available in shops, sports centres, cafes, and Waitrose in St Albans and Harpenden or by visiting www.midnightwalk.co.uk

Alternatively call Jo Fall on 01727 731002 or email joanne@grove-house.org.uk