Olympic cyclist launches St Raphael's midnight ladies walk (From Wimbledon Guardian)

Olympic cyclist, Joanna Rowsell, launches St Raphael's midnight ladies walk in North Cheam

8:00am Monday 1st October 2012 in News By Sophia Sleigh, Reporter

An Olympic gold medallist and the mayor of Sutton launched the midnight ladies walk for St Raphael’s Hospice.

Joanna Rowsell and Councillor Sean Brennan set off hundreds of women dressed in yellow on their five mile walk around North Cheam and Worcester Park.

The midnight walk which took place on Saturday, September 22 is expected to raise £25,000 for the hospice in its 25th anniversary year.

St Raphael's, based in London Road, North Cheam, treats terminally ill patients from Sutton and Merton.

The hospice is free of charge and cares for 900 patients each year.

It costs £4 million a year to provide the services. Sutton and Merton PCT provide a £1 million grant, however £3 million has to be raised from charitable donations, fundraising and legacies.

To donate to the Give Your Quid campaign visit suttonguardian.co.uk/giveyourquid/