ST LUKE’S Hospice in Winsford is at risk of losing out on major funding due to a deficit in the number of women signed up to this year’s Midnight Walk.

The walk has become the hospice’s biggest and most important fundraising event since it started back in 2005, covering 13.1 miles through the Crewe and Nantwich countryside.

However, now in its eighth consecutive year, only half of the 1,700 places have been filled leaving the hospice at risk losing £250,000 of funding and staff fearing the impact the deficit will have on services.

Jane Thompson, head of event management for more than 10 years, said: “The money raised by the annual Midnight Walk is very important to the hospice.

“It is the largest single fundraising event that we organise and the money raised by the walk provides approximately 45 days of hospice care to patients suffering from life-limiting illnesses.

“If the walk doesn’t take place we will lose £250,000, if we have to halve the walk then we will lose £125,000, which will have a serious impact on us.

“There is no other event we can put on that will raise as much money as this does.

“It is quite frightening.”

Each year the walk has managed to raise an average of £250,000. In 2009 that figure peaked to more than £325,000.

All monies raised goes towards caring for patients from mid and south Cheshire suffering from life-limiting illnesses.

Jane added: “The total figure raised by the Midnight Walk is not far short of £2 million, which has enabled us to enhance and create new services – it has become part of our annual budget.

“In a way it has become a victim of its own success. There are other events like this but we still need people to get involved.”

This year’s walk will take place on Saturday, June 9. Registration costs £15, which includes a Midnight Walk T-shirt, breakfast, toilets and the cost of policing.

All sponsorship money will go directly towards patient care at the hospice.

To sign up call 01606 555 688 or register online at midnightwalk.co.uk