Your footsteps will change people's lives

By taking part and asking friends to sponsor you on your walk, you’ll be raising much needed funds that will make a huge difference in your community. Every year Cotswold Care Hospice supports more than 600 patients with life-limiting illnesses, along with their families. But we can only do this thanks to the support of people like you. Thank you for taking part – you are helping us change someone’s life.

Event Information GuideThank you very much for registering for our Solstice Walk

Thank you for joining us for this year’s Cotswold Care Hospice Solstice

This guide is packed full of information about the walk and will hopefully answer any questions you may have. Please read the information provided carefully to ensure you have an enjoyable

evening with us.

Boosting your Sponsorship MoneyWe haven’t set a minimum amount of sponsorship that you need to raise, but we ask that you try and raise as much as possible to help support the hospice. Enclosed are sponsorship forms to enable you to ask your friends, family and colleagues for sponsorship, but here are top tips to help you on your way.

Top Tips! Set a goal, decide how much you think you can raise and have something to aim for. Be ambitious - most people are surprised by how much the money adds up. Work at it - Most people give to charity but few go out of their way to do so. The more people you ask, the more money you will raise.

l Get a generous sponsor at the top of your sponsor form to set a standard. l Ask your sponsors for donations in advance to save you chasing them up after the event.l Don’t forget to tell people on your Facebook or Twitter page about your fundraising. If you have set up a JustGiving page - share this link on your pages.

Get people in your local community involved - tell them about the Solstice Walk and get them to pledge money or raise awareness of your fundraising.

Online giving Visit www.JustGiving.com and set up your own online fundraising page. It’s really easy to do by going through the step by step guide. You can then email all your friends and watch the money roll in!

here are some ideas to help you Fundraising Hints and Tips

Thank you for taking part you are helping us change someone’s life.

Charity no. 298627

Location and Parking:The Solstice Walk will start and finish at Cotswold Care Hospice in Minchinhampton. Limited parking is available at the Hospice, so we do encourage you to travel together as much as possible to limit the number of cars.

Cheltenham Park & RideIf you are travelling from the Cheltenham and Gloucester areas, we are providing a Park and Ride service from Cheltenham Racecourse, courtesy of the lovely people at Stagecoach. The bus will leave at 5.45pm and will leave for its return journey at 10.00pm or earlier depending on how long it takes all passengers to complete the walk and enjoy their evening. If you would like to take the strain out of your journey by taking the bus, please call the fundraising team on 01453 886868 and we will send you your bus pass for the ride. The deadline for booking your seat on the bus with us is Monday 9th June.

A map of how to find us has also been enclosed with this Welcome Pack.

What time can I arrive?Registration will take place in the Education Centre at the Hospice which will be open between 5.30pm – 6.50pm. You will be asked to register under your walk number. You will also need to re-register with us when you finish the walk, so that we know you have arrived back safely.

What time does the Walk begin?You can choose to begin your walk at 6.00pm, 6.30pm or 7.00pm. We suggest that if you are taking part in the 10k walk, or want to enjoy either walks at a leisurely pace that you register with us from as early as 5.30pm to set off by 6.00pm. We ask that all walkers are back with us by 10.00pm please.

Everything you need to know Get all the latest news for the Solstice Walksimply ‘Like Us’ on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ CotswoldCareHospice or Follow us on Twitter at @cotswoldcare

Get started early The quicker you raise sponsorship the easier it will be for you to raise your personal sponsorship target.

This is how your sponsorship money can help. £20.05 will help to pay for an hour’s care by a Hospice at Home nurse

£180.45 will help to pay for a night of care from a Hospice at Home nurse

£198.79 will fund a visit to our specialist Day Hospice

£795.33 will pay for one month of visits to our Day Hospice

Memory Arch. You will have the opportunity to hang the ribbon you received in your pack in memory of someone on our special memory arch at the event and give yourself some time to reflect and remember those who are no longer with us.

Do I have to raise a certain amount of money?We have not set a minimum amount that you need to raise but we do ask you to raise as much as you can! You will find sponsorship forms enclosed with this guide for you to use, plus lots of fun and easy ways you could boost your sponsorship money.

You are welcome to bring your sponsorship forms and money with you on the evening of the walk and hand it in when you register. If you do not have your sponsorship money with you we will ask you for an estimate of how much you think you have raised. All sponsorship money should be returned to the Hospice within four weeks of the event, by Friday 18th July, making cheques payable to Cotswold Care Hospice.

What is the route of the Walk?The walk will begin and end at the Hospice itself and is a circular 5k or 10k (approx. 3 or 6 miles), taking in the National Trust Common land. The walk has been designed for people of all ages there is no real hill walking involved, the nature of the common land and surrounding area of the Hospice means that there will be a few small gradients.

Will there be anywhere to leave any valuables?Yes you will be able to store your personal belongings at the Hospice, but we are unable to accept responsibility for any loss and damage occurred.

Will there be toilets on route?There will be toilets available at the start and finish of the walk only.

Safety and Security:We will provide you with a map of the route on the evening of the event and the walk will be marshalled at various stages by our team of volunteers. If you have any problems on the walk you will be able to ring an emergency number which will be given to you when you arrive to register.

What should I wear?We recommend that you wear shoes suitable for walking across rough grass land and roads and of course your Solstice Walk T-shirt. Please be sensible and dress for the weather, you may even need sun screen. You are welcome to come along in fancy dress, anything goes!

Are dogs allowed on the walk?Yes, we want to make this a real family occasion and you are welcome to bring along your dogs with you, they might even want to raise some sponsorship money! We just ask that you are mindful of those around you and that you be a responsible dog owner. You will be expected to clear up after your dog at all times.

What activities are taking place after the walk?We are busy planning an exciting line up of activities which will begin at 5.30pm including live music, children’s entertainment along with home cooked food and a bar too. Look out for some surprises along the route too!

Cotswold Care Hospice, Burleigh Lane, Minchinhampton, Gloucestershire GL5 2PQ T: 01453 886868 F: 01453 885282 E: info@cotswoldcare.org.uk www.cotswoldcare.org.uk

Patron: HRH The Prince of Wales, KG, KT, GCB, OM, Registered Company Limited by Guarantee Number 2213662