A group of women who met as parents at Lichfield Cathedral School are the latest people to sign up for the Solstice Walk in aid of St Giles Hospice. 

Jacquie Thackray, Lucy Pike, Sue Kershaw, Jill Guest, Ann Turner, Mandy Wiseman, Cheryl Carr, Louise Markham-Moore, Ann O’Brien, Dawn Hendon and Tracy Newton
Jacquie Thackray, Lucy Pike, Sue Kershaw, Jill Guest, Ann Turner, Mandy Wiseman, Cheryl Carr, Louise Markham-Moore, Ann O’Brien, Dawn Hendon and Tracy Newton

The team of 12, who call themselves Titania’s Togs join more than 1,000 women already registered to take part in the biggest single fundraising event in St Giles Hospice’s 25-year history.

Mum-of-three Tracy Newton, explained:

“Our friend Jacquie Thackray has been key to us taking part in this year’s nine-mile walk. She took part last year and told us how much fun it was, and even came up with a team name to suit the Midsummer night theme and us – Titania’s Tired Old Girls, or ‘Togs’ for short.

“Now that our children are a bit older and attend different schools, we have continued to meet at the Esporta gym in Lichfield each week, and we have added some outdoor training for the Solstice Walk with walks around Sutton Park .”

As well as training and raising sponsorship for St Giles Hospice, Tracy , Jacquie and the other Togs have had special t-shirts made, and will be wearing fairy wings and tiaras from a theatrics company to complete their fairy-tale outfits.

 Helen Relihan, Head of Fundraising for St Giles Hospice, said:

“The Titania’s Togs team is just one example of how women in and around Sutton Coldfield are signing up in droves to be a part of this exciting event on Midsummer’s night. We have record numbers taking part this year, and because we have doubled the number of places on last year’s Solstice Walk, women can still sign up until Friday 5th June and make sure they are at this memorable fundraiser!”

 Women wishing to take part in the Solstice Walk 2009 on June 20, which supports St Giles’ care for local people with cancer and other serious illnesses, should contact the St Giles Hospice Fundraising Office before June 5 on 01543 432538, email [email protected] or download an entry form from www.stgileshospice.com/solsticewalk .   

Entry is £14 per walker and everyone who signs up will be sent a Solstice Walk sponsorship pack and a map of the nine-mile route around Lichfield .

Last year’s Solstice Walk attracted 1,000 entries and raised more than £100,000. Since the first Solstice Walk took place in 2007, the annual event has raised £150,000 for St Giles, with all proceeds spent on the charity’s caring services.

Founder of Lichfield Live and editor of the site.