HUNDREDS of people have signed up to take part in Kirkwood Hospice’s Midnight Memory Walk – but even more are needed.

The walk is the biggest hospice fundraiser of year, generating vital funds to enable Kirkwood to provide care for people with life-limiting illnesses, free of charge.

Last year the walkers raised £66,000 – but more participants are required to make it a record-breaking year in 2013.

And with just under two weeks to go, there is still time to enrol in either the six-mile or 10-mile circular road walk, which starts and finishes at the John Smith’s Stadium on Leeds Road.

Kirkwood Hospice fundraiser Emily Kennedy said: “The stories behind why people are doing the Midnight Memory Walk are really touching and we’ll be asking walkers to share their experiences on the night on a special message board.

“We’ve got people walking in memory of family members, friends and colleagues as well as many who simply want to support their local hospice and make sure we can keep providing all the services we currently offer.”

Diane Scott’s daughter, Claire, of Waterloo, was cared for at the Kirkwood Hospice in Dalton, before her death in 2011.

Having been so impressed by the way her daughter was treated, Diane decided to join the Midnight Memory Walk last year.

She said: “The care provided by the hospice was nothing short of amazing, from the doctors and nurses to the support staff, nothing was too much trouble.”

And she said the walk has its own special atmosphere.

“It was absolutely electric,” she said.Š “Everyone seemed to be so excited to be taking part.ŠThere were no strangers there – everyone was a friend, everyone had their own story to tell.”

The walk, supported by Syngenta and AM Recruitment, takes place on Saturday, June 22.

Participants are welcome to soak up the entertainment and party atmosphere from 10.30pm.

All walkers will receive a commemorative T-shirt, which can be personalised and glow sticks to light the way.

They will receive a bacon butty and hot chocolate when they finish and a medal to remind them of their contribution to the work of the hospice.

Registration costs £10 per person (£5 for under 16s). People can sign up online at www.kirkwoodhospice.co.uk or call the fundraising team on 01484 557911 for a registration form or further information.

Registration forms are also available at each of Kirkwood Hospice’s 19 shops across Kirklees.