Praise from the Countess

Evening all,

I’ve had a email from Kathy Kenney at the Countess of Chester Hospital Fundraising Team praising us for the work we all done at the Midnight March back in June. Again a big thanks to all who attended.

Brutus.

 

A big THANK YOU to our Roman Tours Centurion friends – Mummius, Feronius, Longinus, Brutus, Germanicus, Ed, Cornu and Brenda – who braved inclement weather and supported the Countess of Chester Moonlight Walk 2008.

 

This year we had over 500 ladies walking the 13 mile circular route around Chester in the dark small hours – and they needed lots of encouragement and support because of the very rainy night.  This was offered in abundance by the Centurions.

 

The rain fell as the soldiers started the walk at midnight.  They lit the way to the Liverpool Road and cheered the walkers on.  They appeared again along a dark section of the A41 and then greeted the walkers back to the Hospital with a cheer and a medal of honour.

 

We have already raised over £40,000 towards our new appeal, Relative Comfort and the General Fund through sponsorship alone: and the money is still coming in.   Well done to the Walkers – and a huge well done to our supporters – those who made the Walk such fun.  The banter, good humour and support the Centurions provided was excellent – and we received many favourable comments from our walkers.

 

Thank you so much and we look forward to seeing you at next year’s walk.

 

Kathy Kenney

Events Fundraiser

Countess of Chester Hospital

 

 

A walkers report:

 

“On arrival there was a very energetic security man directing you to the parking areas.  Once inside the Education and Training building, the registration process ran very smoothly and only took a couple of minutes before we were directed back out to the Liverpool Road car park where Marcher Sound was located.

 

It had managed to stay dry for most of the afternoon but as luck would have it the heavens decided to open just as the warm up started.  So it really felt like we were participating in an “aqua aerobics” session.  Alison from Total Fitness who organised this actually does teach “aqua aerobics” so felt right at home!

 

We were then started in groups of about 50 or so, led by men in skirts (Roman Centurions) and at midnight off we set.  It continued to rain intermittently throughout and we had fun dodging the puddles.  It seemed that every time we all decided to take off the rain gear someone n high thought it would be fun for the rain to start again.  The rain finally stopped for good about ¾ of the way round.  On the really dark stretch of the course the Centurions were there with their torches to light the way.

 

Finally reached the finish line after 3.5 hours and we were presented with our medals by a group of  Centurions singing “the rain will come out tomorrow”!  We were then treated to scrummy bacon butties, doughnuts and tea”