Published: Friday, 12th February, 2010 8:00am

Lizzie sets the pace for Midnight Walk

LIZZIE Webb, breakfast TV's first fitness guru, will be leading the way on the second Midnight Walk in aid of Sue Ryder Care.

The women-only six-mile walk takes place beneath the stars on Saturday, May 8, and organisers and volunteers gathered at Nuffield Health in Green Park, Reading on Monday to launch the fundraising campaign.

Lizzie, this year's event ambassador, starred on TVAM for 10 years and is bringing her energy and enthusiasm to the fun sponsored event.

She said: "It doesn't matter what your fitness level is, you can go at your own pace or stride it out. All ages and all abilities can do the Midnight Walk."

The first Reading Midnight Walk last year raised more than £50,000 when 600 women and girls put on their snazziest outfits and flashing pink deeley-boppers to walk 10k (six miles) around Green Park. Husbands, sons, brothers and dads cheered them on and acted as stewards. This year even more women from Wokingham, Bracknell and the surrounding area are encouraged to sign up to support the hospice, which cares for people from across Berkshire.

Lizzie, who runs fitness courses for excluded students and trains single parents in Reading with rowing Olympic silver medallist Debbie Flood, said: "This is a chance for women to do something together. There's a great camaraderie and it will be fun."

The event is backed by the News' sister paper, the Reading Chronicle, and sponsored by wholesaler Costco and Green Park-based Nuffield Health. Instructors from the well-being centre will run the late-night warm-up session again and there will be music and entertainment along the route.

At the finish walkers will receive a T-shirt, medal, goody bag and continental breakfast supplied by Costco.

Liza Upton of Sue Ryder Care said: "With even more walkers this year we want to smash last year's total and make a difference to the lives of more people with complex life-

limiting conditions such as cancer.

"Last year was a fantastic event with such an exciting atmosphere."

Sue Ryder Care specialises in

palliative care for sufferers of cancer, strokes, Multiple Sclerosis, dementia, Huntington's disease, Parkinson's disease, brain injuries and Motor Neurone Disease.

* The Midnight Walk takes place in Green Park, Reading, on Saturday, May 8.

* Women will set off at the stroke of midnight to raise money for the Sue Ryder Care Nettlebed Hospice.

* It is a 10k (six mile) course, starting and finishing at Nuffield Health, Green Park, with music and entertainment en route. No running is allowed.

* The walk is open to all women and girls. Under 15s must be accompanied by an adult woman.

* Take advantage of the Early Bird offer and register for £12 before February 22. Entry after this date is £15. All participants must pre-register.

* Sign up at www.suerydercare.org/midnightwalks or call 01491 641070 or email fundraising.nettlebed@suerydercare.org