THE MACCLESFIELD midnight is calling you for the last time!

With only one day left to register for the first ever East Cheshire Hospice (ECH) Midnight Walk, the race is on to sign up and seal your position as a participant.

One lady who is already named in the field of 258 ramblers is chief executive of Macclesfield Borough Council (MBC), Vivienne Horton.

Voicing her support for the ‘Caring for Our Future Appeal’ – one month since the Macclesfield Express and the Millbank Drive-based charity joined forces – Vivienne thinks the challenge to raise £2.5million for the new build is massive but achieveable.

"The new building is an exciting looking development. I was lucky enough to have a look at the plans at an early stage – it’s very attractive.

"It will improve the already excellent care that ECH provide. It is a massive challenge to raise the £2.5m needed to complete the project but I certainly believe it’s possible."

With Phil Robertshaw – fundraising and communications manager at ECH – initially declaring a desire for 500 people to walk the walk, it seems the time has come to talk the talk.

And Vivienne, an appeals committee member at ECH certainly stands by this.

She added: "This is a really good cause. Ever since the Macclesfield Express publicised the event it’s really picked up but if everyone could try and find someone they know and get involved as either a walker, volunteer or as a sponsor it would help a lot."

The self-declared sports fan has also sent an email out to MBC staff in an attempt to round up additional walking troops.

She said: "The walk will certainly be different. I’m trying to go training in the next few weeks at a leisure centre in Macclesfield so I hopefully find it a bit easier on the day. I am working on getting more representation from MBC on the walk and can’t wait to get out there and just hope I can get a lot of sponsors from people."

Now only 17 days away, the Midnight Walk will will start and finish at the Tytherington Club on Saturday, September 13.

The event will kick-start the hospice’s push towards raising the £2.5m needed to complete all three phases of a building project that will see ECH improve its patient care.

"In order to provide the very best care, ECH will be able to provide better facilities and more single patient bedrooms if the money is raised. I believe passionately in the service they provide and want to do what I can to help. I think it would be a brilliant place for a family member to go if they were unfortunate and had to be cared for in that way," said Vivienne.

So yes – there is still chance for you to dash for the line and contribute towards the hospice’s aim of raising £35,000 from this unique event.

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer or walker, both registration forms can be downloaded from the web site www.eastcheshirehospice.org.uk by following the link to the Midnight Walk.

Alternatively you can contact ECH fundraising office on 01625 433477 who can post one out to you.

The closing date for volunteer and walk registrations is Thursday, August 28.

Walkers only can complete the form in this week's Express.