NEXT Saturday morning (June 7) will see an army of dedicated supporters rise early in a bid to raise much needed funds for St Kentigern Hospice as they take part in the charity's seventh 'dawn walk'.

The passionate supporters of the St Asaph-based hospice will set of on a 10km (6.2-mile) walk at 5am, starting the weekend on a very positive foot raising valuable funds for this very worthy cause.

The funds raised from events such as the 'dawn walk' are essential to the sustained future of the hospice.

Lindsey Thomas, event organiser and community fundraiser for the hospice, said: "This superb event has been very well supported and raised in excess of £100,000 in the last six years for the essential care and support offered to local people using St Kentigern Hospice."

This year the walk will start and finish at St Asaph Cathedral. Entry is open to all over the age of 10 and dogs on short leads are very welcome. Entry is £10 (or £25 if you wish not to collect sponsorship).

Entry forms are available from the St Kentigern Hospice fundraising office which is now located on Mount Road, St Asaph, over the phone on 01745 536022 or more information and online registration is available at www.stkentigernhospice.org.uk

St Kentigern Hospice provides specialist palliative care services, completely free of charge, for adults across North East Wales. 

Taking in Colwyn Bay in the west along the coast to Northop in the east and inland encompassing Ruthin, Corwen, Denbigh and Llangernyw.
Services include an eight-patient ward, physiotherapy, day care unit for up to 15 patients, outpatient clinic, occupational therapy, bereavement support and complementary therapies.

In 2018 it will cost more than £1.6 million to run the hospice which equates to more than £4,300 per day. Just 18 per cent of this will come from the local health board, which is only enough funding to support the hospice for 68 days.

The hospice therefore greatly relies upon on the generosity of the communities it serves in North East Wales to raise the additional funding for the remaining 299 days of the year.

This year, the hospice building will undergo a redevelopment, including an extension and refurbishment with the aim of providing wider access to services for more people in the community.