50 extra volunteers required for charity Night to Remember event

A Night to Remember, being held on June 21 in Worthing, will see hundreds of women walk a choice of three different distances along the seafront or through the town, to raise awareness of and money for the hospice.

This year, a 20-mile route has been added, which means more volunteers are needed to ensure that things run smoothly.

The charity is looking for an extra 50 volunteers to offer their time to help register the participants, marshal the route and serve up breakfast for walkers when they return.

Event organiser Lucy Bone said: “The Night to Remember Midnight Walk is now in its seventh year and the help our volunteers give is vital to ensure the on-going success of the event.

“We are appealing to anyone who can spare a few hours or even the whole night to come forward and volunteer their time and we particularly need help between 4am and 9am. However, any time that can be given will be gratefully received.”

Three sisters from Lancing and Littlehampton have chosen to take part in the 13- mile walk, in memory of their mother, Sue Dorey.

Michelle Johnston, Nicola King and Annette Gaydon were all in their twenties when she died of lung cancer at the age of 53.

Sue was diagnosed after having a chest x-ray for pneumonia and despite an operation to remove the tumours and two treatments of radiotherapy, the cancer spread.

Less than a year after being diagnosed, Sue’s district nurse suggested that she might wish to spend her final days in a hospice.

At first, Sue and her family were reluctant.

However, after visiting St Barnabas House in Worthing, their preconceived ideas changed.

Nicola said: “When we first visited St Barnabas House we were made to feel so welcome.

“The atmosphere was not as we thought it would be as it was a happy place filled with dignity.

“It was a terribly emotional time for me and my sisters, especially as Annette was heavily pregnant with her first child.

“However, Mum spent her last couple of weeks of life being made to feel very comfortable and well looked after by all the staff. We couldn’t have offered her this at home.

“Last year, my friends were taking part in the St Barnabas House Night to Remember midnight walk and I joined in, raised money and loved it.

“So this year, when I saw the event was taking place again in Worthing I decided that it would be a great thing for me and my sisters to take part in together.

“We will be walking 13 miles throughout the night with like-minded women, to raise money for a great cause, as well as remembering our marvellous mum.

“We are looking forward to the amazing atmosphere on the night.”

Those interested in volunteering for the event should visit www.nighttoremember.org.uk/stb