Midnight Walking down the aisle
Rose Harland • Published 12 Mar 2009 08:30
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A BRIDE-to-be hopes training for Reading's first Midnight Walk for Sue Ryder Care will also be a step towards stepping into her dream wedding dress.
Natasha Lovejoy, 26, is marrying fiancĂ© Simon Berridge, 25, in October and hopes the walk will help her lose a dress size to fit her £1,000 size 10 gown.
The town centre admin worker said: "Sue Ryder is a good cause - the Nettlebed hospice is very nearby - and also my plan is to lose the weight before the dress arrives in July.
"Over the last couple of years my exercise has been almost non-existent. I'm just hoping to get out there and get a bit of exercise. You are meant to walk 10,000 steps a day and it would be good to get out in the countryside more."
Sue Ryder Care hopes 1,000 women will be sponsored for the event on Saturday, May 9, around Reading's GreenPark to help raise at least £30,000 for its Nettlebed hospice.
Natasha said: "It's a women-only event but Simon will be supporting my training. On Sunday we went on a six-mile walk together as practice."
She has also been playing Wii Fit and walking around Marwell Zoo - where she and Simon have annual memberships and plan to hold their wedding.
She said: "We really like it there and we wanted a wedding with a bit of a difference."
The couple live in Basingstoke but Natasha still has family in Reading and will be joined on the walk by workmate Cathy Turner.
The six-mile walk includes a warm-up led by on-site gym Nuffield, music from Reading 107 and entertainment. It finishes with a breakfast of pastries and hot drinks, and a goody bag, T-shirt and medal to take home.
Event fundraiser Sarah Smith said: "Come and join us for a fantastic evening of laughter and fun whilst raising money for a very worthwhile cause. With your help we can care for more people from Berkshire with conditions such as cancer.
"Every penny counts but if we have 1,000 women raising at least £50 we will be able to provide four months' nursing care."
The hospice cares for people suffering from cancer, Multiple Sclerosis, strokes, Parkinson's disease, motor neurone disease, Huntington's disease, brain injuries, dementia and other conditions.
Info panel:
Warm-up sessions will be held shortly before the 10km/six mile walk at midnight on Saturday, May 9, at Green Park off the A33. south Reading.
It costs £12 to register and Sue Ryder hopes each of the 1,000 participants can raise at least £30 to and exceed its £30,000 target.
Sign up by visiting www.suerydercare.org/midnightwalks. Alternatively call Sarah Smith 01491 641070, email sarah.smith@suerydercare.org">sarah.smith@suerydercare.org for a registration form.
Places are limited and there is no registration on the night.
Men can support the event by helping with marshalling and stewarding.
Girls under 15 must be accompanied by an adult.
This article appeared in Reading Chronicle 12 Mar 09
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