Marie Curie's flagship event Walk Ten is back

-          Forestside Shopping centre signs on as headline Walk Ten partner

-          Iconic Stormont estate to host Walk Ten in September

Northern Ireland’s leading terminal illness care provider, Marie Curie has teamed up with Forestside, one of NI’s favourite shopping centres, to launch its 2016 Walk Ten event which will take place on Friday 9 September in the grounds of the Stormont Estate – start time 7pm.

Walk Ten event is now in its sixth year, during which time it has raised over £500,000.  This money has had a huge impact on people, and their families living with a terminal illness and has enabled Marie Curie to continue to deliver its nursing service in the community and at its specialist hospice in based in East Belfast. 

In addition to its nursing service, Marie Curie has used this money to develop and deliver innovative services that can help support more people living with a terminal illness. 

The services include the Helper Service that offers companionship and emotional support and the creation of a dedicated information and support telephone line (0800 090 2309) that offers useful information about living with a terminal illness and how to access expert nursing care.

Commenting on this year’s Walk Ten event, Ciara Gallagher, Head of Fundraising, Marie Curie NI said, “Walk Ten is a fantastic event and one that is always brilliantly supported by the public.  Walk Ten is a great excuse to get together with friends, family or colleagues for a beautiful 10K walk around Stormont.

“The great thing about Walk Ten is that it’s a very sociable event.  Participants take part at their own pace and we actively encourage walkers to bring  a picnic, so they can relax and enjoy the live entertainment and firework finale after their walk  Any money raised from the event will be used my Marie Curie to help more people living with any terminal illness.”

This year’s event will be supported by Forestside Shopping Centre.  This is the first time the Marie Curie Walk Ten event will have a headline partner.  Forestside has participated in the event over the years and having witnessed the impact the event has on the walkers the Centre took the decision to become more involved.

Forestside Centre Manager, Lee Cutler said, “We have been working with Marie Curie for a number of years now and have come to understand how important the charity is to the wider community, but more particularly to our customer base.  The Centre has been supporting Walk Ten for a number of years now; we’ve entered teams and supported walkers with an array of hospitality offerings.

“We’ve seen first-hand how important Walk Ten is and the impact it has on people of all ages.  Some participate to remember a loved one, others do it as a way of thanking the charity for the support that it provides and some just turn up to lend morale support to friends and family.

“So, this year we decided to get fully behind the event.  Our aim is simple; to make the 2016 Walk Ten the best ever by encouraging as many people as possible to participate and in turn helping to raise more money for Marie Curie.”

Registration for Walk Ten is now open.  Walkers can sign up by visiting www.mariecurie.org.uk/walkten or for more information call 028 9088 2060. 

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