Wyatt raises £870 for Acorns...

…but with your help we could still reach £1,000!

The conditions were perfect last Saturday night for the Acorns Midnight Walk– warm and clear with a slight and welcome breeze – as our eight intrepid volunteers traversed the city of Birmingham taking in well-known landmarks from the Jewellery Quarter to Victoria Square.

Gill set the pace to take an early lead but as everyone settled into their rhythms the pack was split with Nuala and Louise coming home in 1 hour 48 minutes and the chase group of Gill, Nicola, Emily, Lisa, Sarah and sister Michelle finishing in dead-on two hours to the dulcet tones of R Kelly’s “The World’s Greatest”. Prizes were awarded to the best dressed participants – sadly a late suggestion for a Wyatt ‘Spice Girls’ theme was vetoed although the ‘Wizard of Oz’ group were certainly worthy winners!

We were truly moved by the sight of so many women walking in memory of their own children – a sombre and timely reminder of just how sorely this charity is needed in the region and how much it means to those it has helped.

It’s never too late to lend some support to Acorns, who offer nursing care and support to children with life-limiting and life threatening conditions. Our secure JustGiving page is still open for donations and you can find out more about Acorns by visiting their website. Huge thanks to all those who have generously donated already.

Sore legs aside the general consensus was that we’d all happily do it again – roll on 2010!

We're walking for Acorns!

At midnight on Saturday 19th September, as you climb into bed, spare a thought for six of our ladies. For, as your night is ending, theirs will be just beginning as they embark upon the 10km Acorns Midnight Walk.

Pounding the pavements of Birmingham are Louise, Nicola, Gill, Lisa, Sarah and Nuala in support of Midlands-based children’s charity Acorns – Wyatt’s chosen charity.

The ladies-only Midnight Walk begins with an 11.30pm warm-up at Millennium Point and the course will take in Brum’s most famous city centre landmarks including the Bullring and Brindleyplace before returning to the start/finish line within (hopefully!) around two hours.

Nuala (left) and Louise show off their official Midnight Walk t-shirts

In their own words…Acorns Children's Hospice has been offering nursing care and support to children who have life limiting and life threatening conditions, and their families, living in the West Midlands for 21 years. Acorns offers specialist nursing care, psychosocial support, complementary therapies, end-of-life care and bereavement support, at its three children’s hospices located in Selly Oak, Walsall and Worcester, and through its Community Team.

Our training so far has consisted of…well, not a great deal, but it’s the fundraising that counts! Each walker has their own individual sponsor form, but we’ve also created a secure JustGiving page which we hope you’ll take a look at and consider sponsoring our girls. Or for more information on the walk and the charity, visit the official Acorns Midnight Walk website.

It costs £7million each year to keep the Acorns hospices operating. The charity is hoping the walk will raise £30,000 in sponsorship so please support us and this local and very worthy cause if you can.

Full report plus pictures coming on Monday 21st!