Leeds residents are invited to join national healthcare charity Sue Ryder this October for their annual 5k and 10k walk under the stars to remember the life of someone special.

Sue Ryder Starlight Hike Leeds will return on the evening of Saturday, October 14, 2023, starting at Prince Henry’s Grammar School in Otley, and it is hoped hundreds of walkers will lace up their trainers in support.

Open to everyone from the local community, the event is an opportunity to get together to remember and pay tribute to loved ones who have died, raise funds and help Sue Ryder create a future where everyone has access to expert compassionate care and support at the end of their life or following a bereavement.

Registration begins at 5.30pm with a pre-walk warm up from Clubbercise before walkers sporting fancy dress, and donning flashing headwear and neon face paint set off from 7pm along the banks of the River Wharfe, through the Wharfemeadows Park and around Otley, with entertainment along the way.

There will also be an opportunity for participants to place a dedication during the event in honour of someone special to them. Crossing the finishing line, walkers will be rewarded with a medal and the knowledge that you’ve done something amazing to remember those close.

Last year Sue Ryder provided over 830,000 hours of care to thousands of families across the country, including from its Sue Ryder Wheatfields Hospice in Headingley, Leeds. Sue Ryder also provides bereavement support, including an online community forum, free bereavement counselling service, personalised text support and new Grief Kind Spaces in two Leeds locations.

Jo Stevens, Community Fundraising Manager at Sue Ryder Wheatfields Hospice, said: “It’s wonderful to be able to bring our community together again this year for a special evening in celebration of loved ones, while raising funds so that Sue Ryder can continue to be there when it matters for families going through the most difficult times of their lives.

“Our Sue Ryder teams work tirelessly to ensure that our patient’s symptoms and pain are managed so that the end of people’s lives can instead be filled with friendship, family, and love in those final moments together.

“By taking part in Sue Ryder Starlight Hike Wheatfields you will be helping us to provide more expert and compassionate palliative care and bereavement support to more people, so we hope people will pull on their brightest outfits and join us for a night under the stars this October.”

Sign up at sueryder.org/starlightleeds

Tickets are £15 for adults and £6 for children aged 6-17. Children five and under go free. If you register before September 10, you receive 20% off the adult ticket price.

Discounts available for groups of 10 or more and you can contact the Sue Ryder Wheatfields Hospice fundraising team with any queries by emailing wheatfields.fundraising@sueryder.org or by calling 0113 2033317.