Rubery Family Sign Up for Starlight Stroll

April 30, 2010

A dedicated fundraiser from Rubery and her twin daughters will be stepping out for charity this summer when they take part in a celestial sponsored walk in aid of Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice.

Deborah Maxwell, manager of the Hospice’s shop in Rubery, will be accompanied by 12-year-olds Faye and Jodie for the Charity’s Starlight Stroll, a night-time sponsored walk for women on July 3.

The 10-mile strut around the city sets off from the University of Birmingham in Edgbaston at 10pm and takes in Harborne, Moseley, Kings Heath and Selly Park.

Deborah (pictured with her daughters) previously worked as an auxiliary nurse for the Hospice, which cares for hundreds of people each year in the south Birmingham area, before switching to a fundraising role.

She said: “It’s going to be a fantastic night out in aid of a great local cause. It is the first time my daughters will have done the event, so they’re really looking forward to it too. As a family we love walking and keeping fit, so we feel we are totally prepared for this event. Hopefully we will be able to raise quite a bit of money for the Hospice.”

Daughter Faye added: “After doing the Race for Life a couple of years ago, we really like taking part in things like this. It’s going to be great fun.”

Deborah, who became passionate about charity fundraising after she lost her sister to cancer at just 28 years old, says she is rallying friends and neighbours to the Hospice cause and expects to take part in the stroll with a group of around 10 other women.

Anyone interested in sponsoring Deborah, Faye and Jodie can go to the Rubery shop between 9.30am and 4pm, Monday to Saturday. Registration forms for those would like to take part in the event can also be picked up at the shop. Alternatively, forms are available at: www.bsmh.org.uk/starlightstroll; or from Charlotte Sudbury on 0121 4721191.

The 2010 Starlight Stroll, which is expected to take between three and four hours, is being spearheaded by BBC Midlands Today presenter Suzanne Virdee.

Suzanne, a keen walker, said she was delighted to support the Hospice’s flagship event, which has a fundraising target of £80,000.

“Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice provides a vital service to the people of Birmingham and Sandwell, so I had no hesitation in saying yes when fundraisers from the hospice asked for my support,” she said.

“And having seen what the hospice does for patients and their relatives going through the most difficult of times I would like to urge as many ladies as possible to sign up for this year’s Starlight Stroll.”

Since its launch in 1979, Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice has cared for tens of thousands of people with life-limiting illnesses.

And with more than 50 percent of the Hospice’s budget reliant on public goodwill, community fundraising is crucial to ensuring its highly specialised services can continue to be offered to the people of Birmingham and Sandwell.

In addition to a 25-bed Inpatient unit, Birmingham St Mary’s boasts a 20-place Day Hospice and provides community care to people who wish to stay in their own homes. The Hospice, whose running costs stand at £6.3 million a year, also supports relatives with bereavement preparation, physiotherapy tuition and counselling in addition to many other services.

Its nurses, often referred to by patients and relatives as ‘angels’, are renowned for going that extra mile to ensure people with terminal illnesses enjoy the best possible quality of life.

Rubery Family Sign Up for Starlight Stroll

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