Medicash appeals to families to sign up to walk

Families on Merseyside are being urged to get active and support this year's Zoe's Place Family Riverside Walk sponsored by Medicash, the Liverpool based healthcare cash plan provider.

The fundraising walk takes place on Sunday 20 September starting at 2pm from Brunswich Dock and will take walkers along Otterspool Promenade. Supported by Merseyside Police Federation, the walk is for the entire family and walkers can choose from either a four mile or an eight and a half mile route along the banks of the River Mersey.

In aid of Zoe's Place Baby Hospice in West Derby, this year's walk aims to raise over £40,000 to fund a major refurbishment project at the hospice. The first Zoe's Place Baby Hospice in the UK, Zoe's Place Liverpool was established over 15 years ago to care for babies with multiple special needs and life limiting or life threatening conditions across the country. The refurbishment will create a new hospice which will be a modern, home from home environment with up-to-date technology and equipment, additional bedrooms and a larger living area.

Penny Williams, Zoe's Place fundraising and communications manager said: 'These walks are great fun and a real family occasion. We are hoping to welcome over 500 people to this year's walk who will all play a key role in helping us to raise money for the refurbishment which will cost over £425,000. The development plans we have for the hospice are very exciting and will allow us to care for more children with complex medical needs every year.'

Medicash's chief executive Sue Weir said: 'Medicash has a long history of charitable giving and has been caring for people on Merseyside for over 138 years. We are delighted to sponsor Zoe's Place Family Riverside Walk 2009. The walk is a great day out and a healthy way to raise essential money for the massive refurbishment project Zoe's Place is undertaking. The improvements will mean staff can continue to provide their specialist and invaluable work to hundreds of children and their families.'

Well known patrons of Zoe's Place include Lady Caroline Derby, ex-Everton player Joe Royle, Liverpool actress and comedian Faith Brown, Brookside and Coronation Street star Michael Starke, and BBC Radio Merseyside presenter Willie Miller.