A HAWAIIAN theme will add colour and warmth to a hospice fundraiser.

St Helena Hospice’s Midnight Walk returns this May with a tropical theme and two new routes.

Event organisers are asking people to dress up in their best flower garlands, tropical shirts and grass skirts for the sponsored walk which will take place on Saturday, May 11.

This year it will be starting and finishing at Severalls Business Park, Colchester.

Once again, men are also invited along with women and children aged 11 and over to take part.

This year, there are two new routes to choose from - one of four and a half miles and one of nine miles.

Along the route there will be Hawaiian themed entertainment, refreshment stops, and a memory stop where families can remember loved ones and hang a personalised message on the dedicated memory tree.

Wendy Munson, who has been a patient at the hospice for three years following her diagnosis of lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, has been receiving care and support.

She said: “I come to St Helena every week for support and I always feel so good after I’ve been.

“I come for Breathe Happy Gardening Group and am going to be starting Supporting Togetherness, Empowering Positivity too.” Wendy likes to give back to the hospice for the care she receives and she took part in the Midnight Walk in 2017 with her daughter.

She said: “I did the Midnight Walk a couple of years ago and managed to walk the whole way round. We really enjoyed it.”

Lisa Chenery, the hospice’s events fundraiser, said: “The atmosphere is always incredible on the night and we hope to see lots of familiar faces as well as new ones joining us to make some special memories.”

The first 500 participants to sign up will pay the early bird fee of £10 per person - the fee is £15 after this.

To sign up visit sthelena.org.uk/midnightwalk.