by Mary Graham

The countdown is on to a 10-mile walk under the stars to raise much-needed funds for the Heart of Kent Hospice.

A Night of a Thousand Stars is the name given to the hospice’s women-only Moonlit Walk which takes place on Saturday, July 4.

The moonlit walk follows a 10-mile circular route starting at 10pm at the David Lloyd Club in Kings Hill, West Malling, along well-lit roads to the hospice grounds at Preston Hall, Aylesford and back again.

The Kent Messenger is the official media sponsor of the event.

Last year thousands of women, all wearing pink T-shirts took part in the walk.

This year walkers will be sent off in style by the Hot Honeyz dance group, from the Mandy Ellen School of Dance in Maidstone, who featured on the Britain’s Got Talent show.

The group will perform at the warm-up and get women raring to complete the 10-mile route by midnight.

Also taking part is prospective Conservative parliamentary candidate for Maidstone and the Weald, Helen Grant.

Hospice spokeswoman, Jodi Eeles, said: "We hope thousands of women will be walking to raise vital funds for the hospice, while having great fun along the way."

Entry is £15 and every walker receives a Moonlit Walk T-shirt to wear during the event, a medal and breakfast at the finish line.

The hospice provides free care for people in Maidstone, Tonbridge and Malling, facing life-threatening illnesses.

It costs £8,200 per day with a yearly cost of £3 million to run the hospice.

To enter, visit www.moonlitwalk.org or call the hospice on 01622 790195.