Hundreds of people will be embarking on an emotional eight-mile moonlit walk to remember lost loved ones next month, while raising vital funds for the Heart of Kent Hospice.

The journey will be particularly poignant for Trudi Godfrey, from Maidstone, for whom the week marks the first anniversary of her father’s death there.

Retired Aylesford handyman Stuart Rolfe was diagnosed with cancer of the oesophagus in August 2013.

But any hopes about his recovery were snatched away in July when he was told the tumour could not be operated on and that the illness was terminal.

Mr Rolfe spent his final five days at the Preston Hall hospice surrounded by his family, where he lost his battle in September 2014, aged 62.

His daughter Trudi, who is head of school at Newington Primary, said: “He had a big fear about the whole dying process and how the end was going to be, but the hospice really made him comfortable.

"He was worried about whether he would be in pain but that wasn’t the case, he was at peace and knowing that made it so much better for us. They don’t just give support to the patients, it is the whole family.”

The 38-year-old, who now volunteers at the hospice’s charity shop in Hall Road alongside her mother, added: “At the same time we will be doing the walk this year, last year we would have been at the hospice with dad.

“The hospice is a special place and without the support of people doing this walk it might not exist. You never know if it will be your family member who needs to use it.”

The circular fundraising walk starts at Preston Hall at 9pm on Saturday, September 19, and ramblers will be invited to create a wall of memories with photographs and messages to celebrate the lives of those they have lost.

Participants will receive a fundraising T-shirt and will be able to buy tutus, boas and flashing bunny ears to complete their look.

To book a place visit ww.hokh.org or call 01622 790195. Entry is £18 or £126 for teams of eight.