Headline sponsor announced for this year’s St Ann’s Manchester Midnight Walk

News
14/01/2020

Betfred has been announced as the headline sponsor for this year’s St Ann’s Manchester Midnight Walk, and a team of walkers from the business is already in training to take on the 10km moonlit stroll themselves.


The hospice’s flagship fundraising event is returning for its 14th year and will take place on 24th April. It regularly attracts over 1000 participants, generous local residents who want to soak up the party atmosphere while raising money to help St Ann’s patients and their families.


Chief Executive of St Ann’s Hospice, Eamonn O’Neal, said:

“The walk has raised more than £2million since it began 14 years ago. We’re incredibly grateful to all of the individuals and businesses that come out to support us. This is the sixth year that Betfred has been headline sponsor of the event and staff from the company regularly take part in the walk too.

“Having this level of support from local businesses makes a huge difference to us, we can’t thank them enough. If teams from any other Greater Manchester companies would like to participate they’d be very welcome, we’d like to see as many people there as possible.”


Group Head of Marketing at Betfred, Gemma Strath-Billington, said:

“It’s an honour for Betfred to be sponsoring this fantastic event for the sixth year. The hospice is very close to Fred’s heart and his support has been a huge benefit to the hospice. The St Ann’s Team work endlessly to ensure that this event delivers on its fundraising goals. I look forward to attending and seeing the seas of yellow and black! Good luck to all the walkers taking part on Friday 24th April.”


The walk starts at midnight, and participants will take on a 10km loop which starts and ends at Manchester Cathedral and passes some of Manchester’s most iconic landmarks along the route. Warm up entertainment starts at 9pm, with music, disco and refreshments available before the walk begins.


Eamonn added:

“The Midnight Walk has been incredibly popular since we launched it 14 years ago, and as those who have taken part in the past know, there’s a real buzz, not just because of the event’s bee theme. People can sign up as individuals or as a team, so it’s easy for colleagues to walk together representing their business while raising funds to help us to continue providing specialist care to local patients and their families too.”


Interested groups of walkers can sign up to take part in the 10km moonlit stroll now, by visiting the website www.mmwalk.org.uk or calling 0161 498 3631. A special early bird rate is available for keen walkers who book their place by 29th February 2020.