Final chance to join Dorothy House for the Midnight Walk in Bath!

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Final chance to join Dorothy House for the Midnight Walk in Bath!

The Midnight Walk is returning for another year on Saturday 5 July. This is a chance for the community to come together and take on this fantastic fundraising event full of walking, talking and dancing in Bath.

The event is for anyone aged 12+ and starts at the Bath Pavilion. Arrival is from 9pm, with time to enjoy drinks, buy merchandise, to have fun, buy food and to take part in a funky warm-up with Cheryl Sprinkler from Mojo Moves. Those taking on the 10K walk will set off at 10.30pm, followed by the 5K walkers who will head out at 10.45pm, enjoying the sights of Bath on a wonderful summer night!

This year's theme is again all about pyjamas – it will be the biggest PJ party in town! The Hospice is looking for people to get into the bedtime spirit by snuggling into their own pyjamas, onesies or dressing gowns or upcycle some gorgeous nightwear from one of the Dorothy House shops!

Hospices are facing unprecedented financial challenges across the UK. Rising costs, a national insurance hike and stagnant government funding is putting huge pressure on Hospice financial sustainability. Over the past three years, the cost of running Dorothy House has risen from £46,000 a day to £52,000 a day.

Fundraising done as part of the Midnight Walk will help fund Dorothy House's Hospice at Home Carers. The Hospice is asking each walker to aim to raise a minimum of £50, which could fund two hours of overnight care, provided by one of the charity's compassionate, skilled and experienced Hospice at Home carers.

These Hospice at Home Carers support patients and their families, keeping the patient as comfortable as possible within a familiar setting. At the very end of life, our team will work with the family to agree several visits to meet the patient's personal care and emotional support needs.

In the UK there are 5.8 million unpaid carers providing care to their loved ones, with over 59% of those being women. Part of the message behind this year's Midnight Walk is to show solidarity to all those unpaid carers in our community. Unpaid carers work together with the Dorothy House team, including the Hospice at Home Carers, to provide support for the entire family.

Amanda Appleyard is taking part in the Midnight Walk in memory of her husband Rob. She says:

"My amazing husband was diagnosed in May 2024 with a Glioblastoma. Unfortunately, it was inoperable and untreatable. We then found ourselves under the care of Dorothy House. We received home visits, where Rob's nurse cared for us both. On 25 September, Rob moved to the hospice. The care Rob and I both received was outstanding; it really was above and beyond.

You never imagine that a loved one would end their life at Dorothy House. The charity gave me the last few weeks back to be Rob's wife. This I can never thank them for enough. Everyone was so kind and caring; from the volunteers who serve the meals to the gardeners we watched outside make Dorothy House the place it is. It's so special and beautiful."