Harrogate’s midnight walk in aid of St Michael’s Hospice is set to return this year after a nine-year break.

The event, the Midnight Glow Walk, will be held on September 21 and will start at 10pm from Ashville Sports Centre.

The 10km route will take supporters across the Stray, around Harrogate Town Centre, and through Valley Gardens, with walkers finishing around midnight, again at the sports centre.

St Michael’s Hospice is a care charity that provides care and support to people affected by terminal illness in the Harrogate district.

The charity is hopeful that over 1,000 walkers will join the walk. It will be in tribute to the thousands of families Saint Michael’s supports each year.

The event is open to everyone and can be walked in tribute or just for the fun. Hospice supporter, Philippa, will be taking part in the Midnight Glow Walk in tribute to her husband, Ivan, with the couple’s two daughters Sofia and Liliana aged 10 and six.

In 2016, aged 45 Ivan was diagnosed with terminal bone cancer. By the time the diagnosis was confirmed, the cancer was too advanced for treatment

Philippa said;

“It was the hardest part of our lives but that five weeks at Saint Michael’s enabled us to have special time as a family. We felt very fortunate. Ivan used to say ‘Don’t count the days – make the days count’’ and Saint Michael’s helped us to do that. Saint Michael’s Hospice is a very special place for us.

“The care they gave Ivan in his last five weeks was fantastic and really took the pressure off; it let us be a family and make some very happy memories – for this we will always be very grateful.”

“We can’t wait to take on the Midnight Glow Walk. Taking part in events for Saint Michael’s and raising any amount of money is really important. The hospice doesn’t just take wonderful care of the patients they really are there for the whole family immediately and for however long you need their support.”

Ivan (left) and Phillippa with their daughter Sofia.

The event hub at Ashville Sports Centre opens from 8.30pm, with pre-walk entertainment and refreshments. The walk will begin with a staggard start from 10pm.

The event is non-competitive and is not timed, and participants are encouraged to take their time and soak up the atmosphere.

Saint Michael’s vital services includes caring for people living with terminal illness in their own homes, and at their Hornbeam Park-based Crimple House Hospice. Specialist bereavement and emotional support service Just ‘B’ is part of their family of services, supporting children, young people and adults across North Yorkshire.

Sign up to take part here.

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People in the Harrogate district are being urged to ‘go purple’ next month to support Saint Michael’s Hospice.

Saint Michael’s, which is based at Harrogate’s Hornbeam Park, has adopted the idea for Hospice Care Week from October 4 to 8.

Hospice UK, the national charity representing UK hospices, organises Hospice Care Week annually to raise awareness and funds.

It has suggested dressing purple, purple-themed bake sales and purple-themed work days as possible ideas to raise money during the week.

The Victoria Shopping Centre in Harrogate will be lit up purple for the event. Other businesses, schools and individuals are being encouraged to join in.

Saint Michael’s, which has 11 charity shops in the Harrogate district, spends £6 million on end-of-life services each year.

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Tony Collins

Tony Collins, chief executive of Saint Michael’s, said:

“This is a great opportunity to get creative and have fun whilst raising funds to ensure Saint Michael’s can continue to help local people living with terminal illness and bereavement.

“We hope that as many people as possible take part, spread the word and raise money for their local hospice.

It is hoped Go Purple will become an annual event if successful.

Further information is available here.

Saint Michaels Hospice has seen a huge number of donations since opening its temporary drop off point in Harrogate this weekend.

This comes as 6 of its charity shops across the district reopened on Saturday, including 4 in Harrogate as well as its Knaresborough and Ripon branches.

In order to ensure that all donations are quarantined for 72 hours, customers are being asked to donate their items to the drop off point on Hookstone Wood Road rather than at the individual shop.

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Since Saturday the charity has seen huge numbers of donations.

Chief Executive of Saint Michaels Hospice, Tony Collins, said:

“We are delighted that we are able to begin opening the doors of our wonderful shops…we are thankful that so many local people have been keeping their donations safe at home for us. In order to manage the required quarantine of goods to the highest possible of standards; we have centralised the receipt of donations for the safety of everyone.”

Since Saturday, the charity has seen an overwhelming amount of donations and expects to see many more in the coming weeks. The Saint Michaels Hospice Donation Drop Off Point is open Monday to Friday 10am-4pm.

Charity shops across the Harrogate district will not be reopening today. This comes as non-essential retail shops prepare to reopen on Monday.

National charities such as Age UK, Barnardos and Oxfam as well as local charities including Martin House and St Michaels, are amongst many who are taking a staggered approach to re-opening.

Yorkshire charity Martin House, who provide care for children and young people with life limiting conditions, is not planning on reopening their Knaresborough and Harrogate shops until July and has suspended all volunteering activities since the beginning of lockdown.

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Stephanie Rimmington, head of retail at Martin House said:

“We are currently working on plans to reopen our shops at the start of July. We are carrying out deep cleaning and installing safety screens and signing to help keep staff and customers safe, and will be limiting the number of people allowed into the shop at a time. Our top priority is the safety of staff, volunteers and customers at all times.”

Many charity shops are unable to open because they’re small which makes social distancing difficult. In addition, all donations made to charity shops have to be quarantined for 72 hours before being put on the shop floor.

Saint Michaels Hospice – Crimple House

Similarly, St Michaels Hospice has confirmed  it plans to reopen its shops from July and is taking precautionary measures around hygiene and social distancing. The charity has encouraged the public to keep clothing donations at home for the time being.