We know that you will have lots of questions about the Big Midnight Walk so we have tried to answer as many as possible, simply click on the heading that applies. If you can’t find an answer just get in touch with the Big Midnight Walk team and we will do our best to help! email info@bigmidnightwalk.co.uk or tel: 01803 217641

Getting a place on the Big Midnight Walk
Groups and teams
What happens on the big night?
What if the weather is awful?
Raising sponsorship money
After the walk

Getting a place on the Big Midnight Walk

How much does it cost to take part? There is a £10 entry fee. This covers the cost of administering the event. We then ask you to raise as much sponsorship as possible to support the work of Rowcroft Hospice and Macmillan Cancer Support.

Who can enter? You have to be 16 or over to enter the Big Midnight Walk and, of course, you have to be female!

When do I find out what time I will be walking? Your arrival and start times will be confirmed in writing to you no later than one month prior to the big night.  To ensure you and your team mates all start at the same time, please ensure you all fill in the same team name on the registration form. Please make sure everyone spells the team name the same otherwise they may not be grouped together.

I can’t walk now, can I give my place to a friend? No, we have to be fair and ensure that any cancelled places are handed on to ladies on our waiting list. If you can not walk please do let us know so we can let someone else walk. We need to ensure we have correct details for each walker, in case of emergency.

Why can only women take part? We feel there is something very special about a group of women joining together for a common cause. We do, however, need lots of volunteers on the night so any men who would like to be involved please contact us about joining the team.

Why have I been given a different time to the one I asked for? The entry form asks for your preferred start time. We will endeavour to ensure that your wishes are met, however times will be allocated on a first come first served basis.

Groups / teams 

Can we walk as a team? We positively encourage you to walk as a team, you’ll have a great time and it’s safer! Please make sure that you include the team name on your registration form (all the same spelling) to ensure that you are all given the same start time.

Can we raise sponsorship money as a team? Yes of course! But please ensure when you send your sponsorship money and sponsorship forms to us that you clearly state your team name and the name of each team member so that we can record your donation. If you fundraise as a team through Virgin money Giving please clearly mark each team member by name.

On the Night

What time do I need to arrive? Registration times are staggered in half hourly slots from 8.30pm. Your arrival and start times will be confirmed in writing to you no later than one month prior to the big night.

What happens when I arrive? You will be asked to sign in at the registration desks at the leisure centre and you will be provided with a unique number plate to wear all night. You will also receive a bottle of water and a banana to keep you going on the road ahead. After a full warm up you will be ready and raring to go. You will leave the leisure centre in small groups to ensure you cross the road safely.

Do I bring my sponsorship money with me on the night? No. We will send you a pledge card closer to the time, which we will ask you to record the total amount on your sponsorship form. We will add up all the pledges on the night and keep a running total of how much has been pledged. After the walk, we ask you to gather your sponsorship money and send it into us as soon as possible after the walk.

Can a friend who hasn’t registered walk with me? We feel quite strongly that those who are walking and enjoying the event are the ones who have worked so hard to train and fundraise. We politely ask that those who wish to walk with you who haven’t registered don’t join in. This is also for everyone else’s benefit and with health and safety in mind- unregistered walkers will not be monitored, haven’t been briefed or done the warm up and could be more susceptible to accident or injury. We are always looking for volunteers so if the walk is full but someone wants to get involved let us know!

Can we drink alcohol on the route? No, it is far too dangerous! Accidents can easily happen when drunk so we ask all ladies to steer clear of alcohol before and during the event- this is more for everyone’s benefit! You will enjoy the thirteen miles more when sober and safe!

Will it be safe? Your safety is of the upmost importance to us. We have a Health and Safety team who come together specifically for this event made up of Raynet, radio communications experts; Mediwest, professional first aid providers; Torbay Council and the police all working together both in the lead in to the event and on the night to ensure the safety of our walkers and volunteers.

How long will it take? The walk will take approximately three hours for a fit walker. We anticipate that the slower walkers will complete in five hours but there is no rush and we encourage walkers to go at their own pace.

What should I bring with me? We will write to all walkers with full details of what to bring on the night. The most important thing to remember is a drink, a torch, mobile phone and waterproofs. Be sure to wear comfy clothes and trainers with good socks.

Will there be toilets? There will be toilets provided along the route as well as rest stops.

Do I need to be fit and can we stop for a rest? No, you can take it at your own pace, but we do recommend that you should train before taking part in the walk. There will be rest stops throughout the walk at Pier Point Restaurant on Torquay Seafront and the Palace Hotel, Babbacombe.

What happens if I hurt myself? Our fantastic first aid providers Mediwest will be present throughout the night both at the rest stops and in their roving vehicles. If anyone is injured or unwell please tell your nearest marshal.
Can I bring my dog? No dogs are permitted on the walk.

I plan to walk this on my own, is that OK?
Yes, of course. We will have a point at the start at which you can meet up with other walkers if you like. We do strongly recommend you stick close to a group of walkers for your own personal safety.

Is the route suitable for wheelchairs? Parts of the route are not suitable for wheelchairs. Please contact us to discuss further. \n info@bigmidnightwalk.co.uk

Do I need special footwear or clothing? We recommend that you wear comfortable clothing and well fitting, sturdy footwear. Jeans aren’t advisable. Remember to wear your Big Midnight Walk T-shirt on the night! If you would like more information on the correct trainers please pay a visit to The Runners Guide, Walnut Rd, Chelston. If you take your sponsorship forms along with you, you will receive 10% off as well as some great advice.

How long is the route? The route is 13 miles. There will be rest points, loos and water stations along the way. There is the choice to opt out at the half way stage at Palace Hotel, where you will be bussed back to Torbay Leisure Centre, Paignton, at which point you must get checked in otherwise we won’t know where you are!

What happens if the weather is awful?

What happens if it raining? The Big Midnight Walk goes ahead come rain or shine! Cover up in waterproofs but don’t bring an umbrella, there isn’t space for 2000 umbrellas on the pavements of Torbay!

What happens if there is a severe weather warning? The first priority for us is the safety of our walkers and volunteers, if the weather looks like it may be dangerous in anyway the Health and Safety team will meet and discuss the options. Watch this website and listen to Palm FM for up to date information.

Raising sponsorship money

Can I choose to support just one charity? No, the Big Midnight walk is organised to benefit both Macmillan Cancer Support and Rowcroft Hospice. All the money raised will be split between each charity.

How much sponsorship do I have to raise? We do not ask for a minimum amount of sponsorship, we want you to raise as much as possible! Remember every pound you raise will go towards helping those in South Devon who are facing cancer or other terminal illnesses.

How do I raise sponsorship money? You will receive a full fundraising pack when we have received your entry form, this could take up to 4 weeks after registering to get to you. This will include your sponsorship forms and heaps of tips and ideas of how to get started. You can even raise sponsorship online. Our fundraising page has loads of ideas.

After the walk

How do I send my sponsorship money to you? You will need to collect all the money that your sponsors have pledged to give to you - don’t forget make sure they ticked the gift aid box. It can be easier to collect the money at the same time they agree to sponsor you!

When you have your total, please write a cheque made payable to ‘Rowcroft Hospice (Big Midnight Walk)’ and pop it in the post along with your sponsorship forms to: Big Midnight Walk, Rowcroft Hospice, Avenue Road, Torquay, TQ2 5LS

You can also pay by credit/ debit card by phoning (01803) 217641. Then post your sponsorship forms to: Big Midnight Walk, Rowcroft Hospice, Avenue Road, Torquay, TQ2 5LS. Please do this as soon as possible, it costs the charities money to follow up missing sponsorship!

Don’t forget to keep your eye on this website to see the total raised! If you have got the ‘fundraising’ bug why not check out what Rowcroft Hospice and Macmillan are up to. Visit their websites and sign up for some more events! Please note that Rowcroft Hospice is handling all donations and splitting the total with Macmillan Cancer Support.