Purple Night Walk

Everything you need to know

We’re looking forward to welcoming you to the Winchester Purple Night Walk on Saturday 20 September, marking four years since the hospice opened its doors. Your support has blown us away and we can’t believe almost 200 of you have signed up to join us.

We are also incredibly grateful to have the event once again kindly sponsored by the wonderful Nony-Kerr Smiley Estate Agents. You can find more about them at the end of this email.

Ahead of Saturday night, please read this email carefully to ensure you are fully prepared and briefed on what to expect from the walk.

Key information

  • Registration takes place from 6pm at The Pilgrims’ School, 3 The Close, Winchester, SO23 9LT

  • Enjoy the entertainment by Winchester Uke Jam before the walk begins

  • Walk commences at 7pm and finishes around 8:30pm

  • There is no parking on site

  • Nearest public toilet can be found on Market Lane, next to Greggs and the flower market shop (open until 8pm)

What you need to bring

  • Your brightest purple outfit!

  • A torch - most of the route is lit but there is one small darker section where a torch would help.

  • Comfortable clothes and shoes - most of the route is along pavement but some sections (around Hospital of St Cross) can be muddy. Make sure you wear suitable footwear. Walking boots are preferable to trainers.

Registration

  • Registration will begin at 6pm in school hall. This will be organised into alphabetical groups based on the first letter of your surname. Please go to the correct table based on your surname upon arrival.

  • If you have pre-ordered a t-shirt this will be given to you when you register.

  • Since the hall is small, we kindly ask that you head outside as soon as you are registered.

Merchandise

  • If you pre-paid for a t-shirt, you will receive this when you register.

  • At the outside merchandise stall, we will also be selling the following items on the day:

    • LED glow up sticks - £5

    • LED glasses - £5

    • Event t-shirts (small only) - £10

  • We have also introduced complimentary “I’m walking for…” signs this year, that you can fill out and pin to your outfit if you wish to dedicate your walk to a loved one. These will be available next to the merchandise stall.

  • Be sure to make the most of our roaming photobooth, where you can snap photos with our event selfie frame and fun accessories.

The route

  • The walk will set off at 7pm and head through Kingsgate Arch onto College Street walking via the Itchen Navigation towards Five Bridges Road. We then pass the Hospital of St Cross, head back towards St Faith's Road passing The Wykeham Arms and back into the Inner Close.

  • We have volunteer marshals along the route, wearing hi-vis jackets, who will wave you in the correct direction, as well as marshals at the front and back of the group to keep everyone on the right track.

  • Please note that part of the route takes you through a field which will contain cows. We please ask that you stay on designated paths, keep the noise and movement of lights to a minimum and pass calmly through this part of the walk.

  • This lovely 6km circular route ends back at Winchester Cathedral where medals will be awarded to everyone completing the walk.

Itinerary

6pm

Please leave the school hall promptly after registration and congregate outside in the waiting area. Enjoy soaking up the atmosphere by listening to music by Winchester Uke Jam, taking snaps in our roaming photobooth and perusing our merchandise stall. Prior to the walk, a short speech will be given by our wonderful hospice matron Donna Coombes, followed by charity trustee Iain Steel.

7pm

Let’s walk! The walk will begin, and you’ll follow behind walk leaders. Throughout the walk, marshals in hi-vis jacket will be placed at various points to direct you – these are all volunteers who are giving up their time to marshal the route so please do give them a cheer and a wave as you pass!

8:30pm

The walk will end at the front of Winchester Cathedral where you will also be awarded a medal for completing the walk and a tasty treat to help build your energy back up.

First aid

In case of any issues during the walk, please notify the nearest marshal immediately. We have a first aider at the event who will be able to assist.

Public toilet

The nearest public toilet can be found on Market Lane, next to Greggs and the flower market shop. To locate it, leave the school and head towards Winchester Cathedral. Continue walking ahead and take the first right, and you’ll find the public toilet on your left. This will be open for public use until 8pm. Thereafter, The Bakers Arms on High Street has kindly agreed that those taking part in the Purple Night Walk can use their bathrooms if you need to but please be aware that, as a public house, they are unable to accommodate anyone under the age of 16.

The school toilet will be accessible for emergency use only.

Car parks

There will be no parking available on site. Please use the nearest car park facilities and/ or take public transportation.

The nearest car parks (opens 24 hours) are:

Photography

On the night, our team will be taking lots of photos and videos to capture what will be a special evening for us all. These will be shared with the local media and on the Winchester Hospice website and social media channels after the event, so do make sure you are following us.

We’d love to see your pictures too so be sure to tag @winchesterhospice in your photos on social media and use the hashtag #WinchesterPurpleNightWalk

If you would prefer not to be photographed or videoed, please let our photographers know.

Sponsorship

Last year, walkers received quite a lot of sponsorship after the event, so please do keep your sponsorship pages live, after the event and continue to share your story.

Thank you to our sponsors

Events like the Purple Night Walk only happen thanks to the generous support we receive from our community. This year, we’re honoured that Nony Kerr-Smiley has once again chosen to sponsor the Purple Night Walk, helping us ensure we raise the most amount possible to help fund our important care for all who need it.

We look forward to seeing you on Saturday!

If you have any questions in advance, or want to speak to one of our team, please email winchester.hospice@hhft.nhs.uk.

Thank you and best wishes,

Mark, Jo, Steph and Helen

Winchester Hospice Fundraising Charity