Maggie’s Nighthikers to be rewarded with bacon butties for breakfast at City Hall
At dawn on the morning September 20th 1,200 people will be having bacon butties in the Living Room of the City Hall, looking out across the nations capital, exhausted but elated after walking 20-miles through the night in aid of cancer care.
The London Night Hike, in aid of Maggie’s Cancer Caring Centres and in partnership with Open House, is returning for its fourth year with a brand new route, once again offering hikers the opportunity to gain exclusive night-time access to some of the architectural gems of London.
Over 3,000 people have taken part in the previous Night-Hikes, raising a remarkable £1 million and enabling Maggie’s to build and open a centre in the grounds of Charing Cross Hospital in Hammersmith. The centre, designed by Lord Richard Rogers, will be incorporated into this year’s route.
Maggie’s CEO Laura Lee said: “Previous London Night Hikes have played a massive part in ensuring the London Centre opened in April this year. The centre is already seeing up to 70 people a day visit to gain access to the unique mix of practical, emotional and psychological support that Maggie’s provides. I will feel incredibly proud to show off the centre to the people taking part this year – they will see exactly where their money is going.”
This year’s hike, starting on September 19th, will open with a party next to City Hall against with the stunning backdrop of Tower Bridge. The 20-mile route will stop at eight spectacular buildings along the way including Somerset House, Battersea Power Station and the Royal Geographical Society, as well as access to the Serpentine Pavillion in Kensington Gardens, entertainment on route and champagne at sunrise on the riverside balcony at the home of the IET in Savoy Place.
Enjoying the festival on foot will be Maggie’s London Centre patron, former Blue Peter presenter, Janet Ellis and her daughter Sophie Ellis-Bextor.
Janet said “I am honoured to be the patron of Maggie’s London Centre. The fact that so many people are already using the services is proof that the centre provides something that was missing previously. I am taking part in the London Night Hike with my family as it is an unusual way to spend a Friday night and a unique way to see some of London’s remarkable attractions.”
Anneka Rice is also taking part, and true to her Challenge Anneka roots, she challenged some of her friends to join her.
Anneka said “People living with cancer are going through one of the greatest challenges of their lives. By signing up for Maggie’s London Night Hike, Londoners will be taking on their own challenge, experiencing our beautiful capital in the moonlight, plus having great fun whilst raising money for an excellent cause.”
The 2008 London Night Hike hopes to be the most successful to date and raise over £400k for Maggie’s Centres. Limited places are still available.
One person already signed up and returning for the second time is Reena Rollason from law firm Dundas & Wilson, Reena said
: “Last year the Dundas & Wilson team raised over £6,000 for Maggie’s and as we all had so much fun we’re returning with a
team of over 20 people and we hope to raise even more money. The atmosphere in 2007 was electric, staff and volunteers were
incredibly supportive and the time just flew by. We even managed a sprint finish and we were cheered across
the line.”
Dundas & Wilson has adopted Maggie’s as their Charitable Partner, 08/09. Reena visited Maggie’s London Centre when it was just a building site and she is now delighted to see it finished. “The centre is truly inspiring, it’s warm, welcoming and full of hope. People living with cancer value that.”
The Metro Shopping Fund is once again sponsoring the event, with further support from CBS Outdoor, The Telegraph, LOVEFiLM, Caffe Nero and the London Design Festival.
Full event and route information can be found online. Registration online is still available, alternatively contact the Maggie’s events team on 0845 602 4324.
Notes to Editors
- Over 1 in 3 people develop cancer in their lifetime and medical advances mean that more people are living longer with a cancer diagnosis. Maggie’s Cancer Caring Centres aim to equip people with the tools to build a life beyond cancer.
- 53,000 Londoners are diagnosed with cancer each year.
- There are currently six Maggie’s Centres - Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee, Highlands, Fife and London. Five more are planned for England and Wales by 2012 - Cotswolds, Oxford, Nottingham, North East (Newcastle) and South West Wales (Swansea).A further two are also planned for Scotland in Lanarkshire and a second centre in Glasgow.
- Maggie’s Centres provide a varied programme of support, including one-to-one or group sessions with a psychologist, a library of information, cancer support specialists on hand to discuss concerns, art therapy sessions, relaxation sessions, tai chi, or simply a homely environment to sit a have a cup of tea and chat to fellow centre users.
- Two new venues added to LNH 2008 route are Horse Guards and The IET at Savoy Place, with jazz and champagne on the riverside terrace as penultimate stop on route. More places are still to be confirmed.
- Registration fees and fundraising targets for LNH are as follows: individual adult registration fee - £37.50 with fundraising target of £300; challenge team registration fee (4-6 members) - £150 with fundraising target of £1,200; child registration fee (under 16) - £25.
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