At a glance
Be a hospice hero!
When
Start: Saturday, May 2, 2020
End: Saturday, May 2, 2020
Where
Walking from Barnstaple, Bideford, Instow or Torrington. Routes from 3.5 to 11 miles
Who
Ladies only. Ages 11+
Fee
£10 (only until 14th January!)
Headline Sponsors:
Entries open at 00:01 on 1st January 2020!
Become a hero by signing up to Nightwalk 2020.
At this year's event you can dress like the hero you are, because by taking part in Nightwalk and raising funds for North Devon Hospice, you are helping local people to be cared for in their hour of need. There's not much more heroic than that.
Your support will help people like Rosie from Barnstaple, who lost her mum and is being helped through this tragedy with bereavement support from the hospice. Please be a hero for Rosie by signing up today.
The 'hero' theme for Nightwalk 2020 will be present throughout the night, as we have plenty of great surprises in store for you. This will be an unforgettable female-only moonlit walk along the Tarka Trail, with even more fun and entertainment along the route than ever before.
This year we're also delighted to welcome girls from 11+ to take part in Nightwalk, so you can make it a real family affair and walk together for the cause.
As a salute to all you heroes taking part in Nightwalk 2020, this year's event will be the best yet.
As well as the return of firm favourites like the Prosecco station, there will also be a host of other treats for you to enjoy on the night, including plenty of live music. We're throwing a real party for all you heroes, to celebrate what you will be achieving.
There is a route for everyone at Nightwalk 2020, with varying lengths and start points across North Devon, allowing even more women across the area the chance to take part. Choose from:
Barnstaple to Bideford (11 miles)
Bideford to Barnstaple (11 miles)
Instow to Barnstaple (7.5 miles)
Instow to Bideford (3.5 miles)
Torrington to Bideford (7 miles)
PLUS THE NEW 'CHALLENGE' ROUTE:
Torrington to Barnstaple (18 miles)
The new 'Challenge' route is the longest we've ever offered. So if you're a keen walker, or regular Nightwalker who wants to take the next step, why not push your boundaries in 2020...
The routes all take place on the Tarka Trail, with it's amazing scenery and views of the rivers. The beautiful vistas on offer as the sun sets will only be matched by the vibrancy of the ladies taking part who will light up the Tarka Trail in the dark.
Transport will be provided back to your starting point once you have finished your walk, courtesy of Stagecoach. So all you have to worry about is your hero outfit for the night!
Your support could not be more crucial. You can make sure that local people who are facing the end of their life, or facing the loss of a loved one, do not go through it alone.
People like Rosie from Barnstaple, a teenager who lost her mum to cancer, rely on heroes like you. She is being supported through this loss by the hospice, but we can only do this thanks to you.
Your support also means the world to people like Sheila from Bideford, who has terminal cancer. You can help to wrap the comforting blanket of hospice care around Sheila's shoulders, to make sure she has expert care and support, whenever and wherever she needs it.
So please, be a hero a join in Nightwalk today. Make sure that local people who are facing the toughest of times are not doing it alone.
For the first time ever, it is a pleasure to welcome girls aged 11+ to take part in Nightwalk 2020. This will allow younger supporters to walk for the cause too, and you can make it a real family affair with daughters, nieces, cousins or friends walking with mums, aunties and grandmas.
There is an increasing need to provide counselling to local young people who are going through the trauma of losing a parent or grandparent. So it is only right that youngsters can walk in solidarity with people their own age, who are currently being supported by North Devon Hospice.
We only ask that there is a 1:2 ratio of adults to children, so there must be at least one adult walking with every two children (aged 11-16) taking part.
Nightwalk is a sponsored walk.
Your registration fee only covers the cost of staging the event. It is the sponsorship raised by our Nightwalk heroes that will help care for local people.
So, once you've signed up, the really heroic work starts. Last year only 54% of walkers raised sponsorship, so this year we could double the total amount raised for the hospice if every woman taking part in Nightwalk got behind the cause.
It's so easy to do. Choose from the following three ways where you could quickly and easily raise money:
1 - SET UP AN ONLINE FUNDRAISING PAGE. Click here to set up a page on Just Giving or Virgin Money Giving. Send the link to your friends, family and colleagues using facebook, twitter or email. You'll be amazed at how quickly you reach £50 or £100.
2 - DO IT FACE TO FACE. Click here to download and print a sponsorship form. Then pass it round you friends, family and colleagues. Fundraising face-to-face is a great way of doing it, because people will understand exactly why you are doing this and will want support you. You'll hit your target in no time at all
3 - HOLD A SMALL FUNDRAISING EVENT. Often people prefer to do this rather than asking people for sponsorship. Click here to read our special Nightwalk fundraising tips. There's tonnes of ways in which you can hit your target. Again, you'll find support easy to come by as it's for a respected local cause.
4 - MAKE A DONATION. If you feel like you can't ask for sponsorship or do any fundraising, you can simply make a donation yourself instead. Many people prefer to do this, and it's really easy and straightforward. Just click here to make your donation, and make sure you tell us in the message that it relates to Nightwalk. Your donation amount is totally up to you, but as a guide, last year the average amount raised by Nightwalkers was £84.
Our sponsors are true heroes too. Without them, we couldn't stage such a large-scale event like Nightwalk. Thank you to all the local companies who have shown their support, it really does make a difference to local people who are facing the end of their life, or facing the loss of a loved one.
If you would like your business to be associated with Nightwalk 2020, please contact Claire Paine on 01271 347232 or email clairepaine@northdevonhospice.org.uk.
Headline sponsors:
Associate sponsors:
FAQs
Unfortunately no. But we do need lots of volunteers for Nightwalk, so men are more than welcome to be part of the event by volunteering. Please get in touch if this is of interest. Call Gerard on 01271 347244; or email gerardfawcitt@northdevonhospice.org.uk.
This year we have several routes of various length and in locations across North Devon, allowing even more local women to take part. Please see the above section entitled 'routes' for more info, but we have walks of 3, 7 and 11 miles. So you can pick the one that suits you best.
How much does it cost to take part?
Registration is £15 with our Early Bird offer which is available until 1st April, and thereafter advanced registration is £20. For those who register on the night they will pay the full cost of £35. We then ask you to raise as much money as possible to support the work of North Devon Hospice. This is because your registration fee only covers the cost of staging the event. It is your sponsorship and fundraising efforts that go to the hospice, helping us care for local people affected by cancer and other life-limiting illnesses.
What happens after I register for the walk?
After you have registered you will receive your registration letter/email. In efforts to keep our costs low and reduce our impact on the environment, we have asked all our ladies how they would prefer to receive their 'Nightwalk registration pack.' It can be posted, emailed or downloaded from the website. At any point, we are happy to post you more copies so please do get in touch.
The Nightwalk routes are very safe and it would take some very extreme weather for us to cancel the event. However, in this eventuality we would get our volunteer teams together and phone round all Nightwalkers as soon as possible to let them know. For the most up to date information on this matter or the Nightwalk in general, please visit this website, or our twitter and facebook pages. So even if you think the weather is bad on the night, do come along unless you hear from us.
We welcome females who are 16 or over to join Nightwalk.
Your safety is of the utmost importance to us. Each route will be marshalled by volunteers and special marshals will be walking the route with you. We also have a special radio communications team on board and first aid on each route.
There will be toilets provided along all routes as well as rest stops. These are fully marshalled and patrolled for your safety.
Do you have any training tips?
There are many benefits to walking; it is a perfect ways to increase your overall fitness; you can progress at your own pace, it can fit in with any lifestyle and doesn't require any technical skill, or cost you anything! Here are some helpful walking tips and ideas: Make sure you have a good fitting pair of trainers. Don't get a new pair of trainers just before the walk, it is better to break them in at least a few weeks beforehand. If you want to get some new clothing for the walk wear it or at least wash it beforehand to avoid chafing. Don't let rain deter you from going out for a walk or run ... after all it could rain on the night! Always warm up prior to undertaking a walk. If you are a stranger to exercise, we would recommend that you build up the mileage and train slowly and steadily. Stop if your body is hurting. Wear reflective clothing if walking in the dark.
Can we raise sponsorship money as a team?
Yes of course but it would help us if you each had individual sponsorship forms so we can individually record your donation! But feel free to add your team name to your sponsorship form. If you fundraise online as a team though, please clearly mark each team member by name. Otherwise we might not know who has contributed to your team total.
Yes you can. Please tell us your team name when filling out your online entry form (or paper registration form, if you've chosen to print one out instead). We positively encourage you to walk as a team.
Can a friend who hasn't registered walk with me?
Yes. However, we would strongly urge everyone to register beforehand for Nightwalk. This avoids the risk of people turning up on the night and the event being full. It also gives people the opportunity to fundraise before the event. However, for people who register on the night, the registration fee is £35 and we will also give them the sponsor forms and ask them to raise sponsorship after the event.
Yes, parking is available at all starting points. However, we strongly advise you to car share or get dropped off and then picked up again. This is because parking could be limited. Once you have registered and selected your route, you will get all the information you need about parking. At the finish line, our buses can drop you off at your starting point.
Do I need to bring anything else?
Please bring your mobile phone fully charged and a torch. Please avoid using head torches, as they will be distracting for other Nightwalkers coming in the opposite direction to you (as they are exactly at eye level).
Having started the walk, what if I want to drop out?
YOU MUST SPEAK TO THE NEAREST STEWARD (identified by their high visibility vests) and show them your walker number. They will take your details and arrange for you to leave the walk. You should never be more than a few hundred yards from a steward at any time. (Exceptionally, if you really can't take another step and you are between steward points, ask a walker to go to the last or next steward point to get help, then wait with another walker for a steward to come to your aid). It is so important that you let a steward know if you intend to retire from the walk so that the laid down procedure for your withdrawal from the event can be carried out. It is important that you hand in your lanyard if you wish to withdraw. Time and manpower will be used to search for you if we do not know that you have left the walk.
I am walking on my own, is that OK?
Yes, we will ask solo walkers to 'buddy up' with other ladies at the start, so you won't be walking completely on your own.
Once I've registered, when can I start?
When you have registered, we will set walkers off in groups. So there won't be much delay between you registering and actually setting off on the walk
What are the registration arrangements?
Each Nightwalker must report to the registration desk on arrival. These are busy stations so please be patient and bear with us, we will try and get you all going as soon as we can!
Please bring refreshments including plenty of fluid. We will also supply you with a banana and a bottle of water at the start of your walk, and a delicious butty and hot cuppa at the finish.
We suggest you wear walking boots or sturdy trainers (but not new ones!); if donning fancy dress please ensure it will be warm and comfortable enough for the walk. Extra clothing and waterproofs will be needed if rain is likely. Please don't underestimate how cold it can be in the evening. The best thing to do is dress like an onion - in layers! So you can peel off layers if you get too hot.
What time do I need to arrive?
When you have registered, your arrival and start times will be confirmed by email close to the time. These details will also available on the website for each walk during the week leading up to Nightwalk.
What will happen at the end of the walk?
You will receive a delicious butty and a cuppa at your finish. The bars will also be open at Barnstaple and Bideford rugby clubs (the finishing points) should you fancy something stronger! We recommend a designated driver! After a great Nightwalk experience, you can go home safely courtesy of Stagecoach, who will take you back to your starting point (or you can go home through your own arrangements). Then, simply congratulate yourself on a job well done, before getting some well deserved sleep!
Can I bring my fundraising money on the night?
Yes, but in cheque form please if you have completed all of your fundraising, payable to 'Nightwalk.' However, we hope that you will continue to raise as much money as you can after the event. After the event, please send your cheque made payable to 'Nightwalk' and sponsorship forms to Nightwalk, North Devon Hospice, Deer Park Road, Barnstaple, EX32 0HU. If you have set up an online fundraising page, this will automatically come through to the hospice when the page closes down (which is usually some weeks after the event).
