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

Sue Ryder Starlight Hike Cheltenham, sponsored by Capita will return on the evening of Saturday 21st October 2023, starting at Ashley Manor Preparatory School, the former St Edward's Preparatory School in Charlton Kings, 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 6 pm with a live music pre-walk warm-up and then at 8 pm walkers sporting fancy dress will set out on a 10k route through Cheltenham.

There will also be an opportunity for participants to pass through the tranquil grounds of Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice, softly lit with festoon lights, and place a poignant dedication in honour of someone special to them. Crossing the finishing line, walkers will be rewarded with a well-deserved medal and the knowledge that they'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 Leckhampton Court Hospice in Cheltenham. Sue Ryder also provides bereavement support, including an online community forum, free bereavement counselling service, personalised text support and new Grief Kind Spaces in Cheltenham and Gloucester.

Matt Reay, community fundraising manager at Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court 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, and by taking part in Sue Ryder Starlight Hike Cheltenham you will be helping us to provide more expert and compassionate palliative care and bereavement support to more people.

"We'd also like to say a very special thank you to Capita for their ongoing sponsorship of the event. We are extremely grateful for their support."

Sara Prewett from Capita said: "We're extremely proud to be sponsoring the Sue Ryder Starlight Hike Cheltenham for the sixth year, a charity which has provided invaluable support to the loved ones of many of our colleagues as well as so many people in our community. This is an evening not to be missed and we hope that lots of walkers will pull on their brightest outfits for a night under the stars to celebrate the lives of loved ones as well as helping to raise vital funds for Sue Ryder's care."

You can sign up here.