22 Jun 2018 Community

Kirklees businesses back Kirkwood’s Midnight Memory Walk

The Midnight Memory Walk is the biggest event in Kirkwood’s fundraising calendar. But 2018’s event wouldn’t be possible without the support of local Kirklees businesses.

The Midnight Memory Walk is the biggest event in Kirkwood’s fundraising calendar and has been bringing local people together for 12 years, to walk through the night in memory of their loved ones.

Each year, over a thousand people fill the Midnight streets of Huddersfield to raise vital funds for patient care at Kirkwood Hospice.

Since 2016, participants of the Midnight Memory Walk have enjoyed The University of Huddersfield as their venue, which has been host to a range of live entertainment and activities in the run up to Midnight.

The University of Huddersfield Staff support Kirkwood's Midnight Memory Walk

 

Participants at this year’s walk with enjoy unique and varied entertainment from Rosie Madison at Pulse Radio, Salsa dancer Veronika Lukacova and Pastiché Entertainment’s Glo Dancers as well as live music from Max Restaino and a warm up from Total Fitness.

Kirkwood is indebted to The University of Huddersfield for their support. As well as providing the venue free of charge, staff members will also be getting involved on the night by serving up breakfast to hungry walkers, and some even taking on the walk themselves!

Suppliers of the University of Huddersfield, TUGO, Matthew Algie and Bidfood have also donated tea, coffee and sausages to this year’s hungry walkers free of charge.

This year’s event is sponsored by Huddersfield-based agriculture firm, Syngenta, with leading banking and asset manager, Investec Wealth and Investment sponsoring the start line.

Syngenta: Main Sponsors of the 2018 Midnight Memory Walk

 

Both companies are providing invaluable funding, backing and promotion of the event, as well as contributing teams who will be taking part on the night, and even setting off confetti cannons to mark the start of the walk.

There are lots of businesses that help provide Kirkwood with vital food and refreshment items to keep our hard-working walkers going.

Each year, Shepley Spring donate 3,000 bottles of water to keep our walkers refreshed. New supporters for 2018, Starbucks on Leeds Road have donated thousands of cups, stirrers and sugar for drinks when the tired walkers return and 160 pints of milk have been donated by Threshfields. 60 bottles of ketchup and brown sauce for the walker’s breakfast rolls have also been kindly donated by Aldi, Slaithwaite.

Kirkwood Hospice is also indebted to the loyal support of ASDA, Dewsbury, who hold regular fundraisers for Kirkwood Hospice throughout the year. This year, bag packing days and coffee mornings at ASDA funded the bacon for the breakfast rolls, which was bought for a reduced price from Haigh’s Farm Shop in Mirfield.

Aldi at Slaithwaite donate 60 Bottles of Ketchup and Brown Sauce

 

Supporting the walk in a unique way this year is local and independent active wear company, Avenue 20, who are donating £5 to Kirkwood Hospice for the sale of each pair of leggings sold in the run up to the walk.

Kirkwood’s Midnight Memory Walk also couldn’t go ahead without West Yorkshire 4x4 volunteers, First Medical and Raynet who help keep our walkers safe, Sainsbury’s at Shorehead who open up their car park free of charge and Mark Flynn who provides amazing photography of the night.

Event Organiser, Kathryn Box, said: “We are beyond grateful for the support we receive from local businesses at our Midnight Memory Walk.

“Every year, the backing we receive is a true testament to the sense of togetherness at the walk, and of the Kirklees people themselves. We really wouldn’t be able to put on this event without them.”

Kirkwood Hospice’s 2018 Midnight Memory Walk takes place on Saturday 23rd June. To get involved, you can sign up on the night at The University of Huddersfield from 9:30pm. Registration on the day is £25 for Adults, £15 for Children (age 16 and under) and £5 for Dogs.

Kirkwood would like to thank event sponsor Syngenta and the University of Huddersfield, as well as start line sponsor Investec Wealth & Investment. The Hospice is also indebted to; Shepley Spring, TUGO, Matthew Algie, Bidfood, Starbucks on Leeds Road, ASDA Dewsbury, Aldi Slaithwaite, Haigh’s Farm Shop, Threshfields, Avenue 20, Mark Flynn Photography, West Yorkshire 4x4 Volunteers, Raynet, First Medical, Total Fitness, Sainsbury’s at Shorehead, Veronika Lukacova, Pastiché Glo Dancers, Max Restaino, Rosie Madison and Pulse Radio. Thanks are also due to the many volunteers who help to make the event such a success.