It was a gloriously warm evening at Ipswich Trinity Park on Saturday 10th May as hundreds of walkers prepared for the annual St Elizabeth Hospice Midnight Walk. Jordon were asked again to organise the logistics to supply a platform for the event which we eagerly agreed working with our close partner Smeets Ferry BV. The platform is the central hub of the event where announcements are made, bands play and in general all activities are directed from.
Our Charity Ambassador Luisa Fletcher was on site Friday to set up and make sure everything was in order ready for Saturday. Luisa has worked closely with St Elizabeth Hospice since 2020 and many of the staff at Jordon have known people where the hospice has supported them in the final years. Luisa commented “I’ve been working with St Elizabeth hospice since 2020 when they cared for my Dad. The care they gave him could not have been better and really helped us through a difficult time”.
On Saturday as final preparations were made Jordon Chief Executive Jon Swallow came along with his wife and children to support the event. A leisurely afternoon started to energise as people began to arrive for the events going on. The day soon turned into a vibrant evening as the sun went down and the crowds lit up the night with the variety of illuminating wearable decorations. The platform by now was pumping with energy as the crowd was going wild dancing to the lively band, aptly named Midnight Road. It all culminated in the final warm up ready for the long walk of 7 miles through Ipswich.
At 9.45pm the crowd surged towards the start line and on final marks set off into the night in well organised groups. Everyone of many different ages and abilities make this walk an annual event, often in dedication to someone they’ve lost where the hospice has been there for them. The charity is very well known in the town yet also stretches across Mid and East Suffolk. Ipswich has 18 inpatient beds but 70% of their care is provided in peoples homes with some amazing figures they’ve helped announced on the evening.
Enthralled by the energy of the event Jon’s teenage children Ishan and Sashi asked to help out with marshalling duties. St Elizabeth sponsorship lead Sarah Stafford took them under her wing, got them donned with a high viz vest each and took them with her to her marshhalling site in the town.
Jon commented ‘St Elizabeth looked after my best friend many years ago, I will never forget that time there. I have family and friends that have and still do work there. What they do, the care they provide, is without doubt one of the most difficult jobs I can imagine, yet their professionalism and compassion shines through. They are one of the charity crown jewels in the region and are a beacon of light, warmth and peace for patients and their families in their darkest hours. I can’t imagine the town without them and encourage businesses to support the great work they do”.
As everyone disappeared into the night with samba drums echoing in the distance only the band was left playing to the few behind the scenes people that were left. Luisa who had been there all day finally made her way home in the Jordon truck as the eateries also departed. Only the band remained playing to an almost empty arena.
When the band finally finished it all went quiet. But they were encouraged to do an encor, which they surpringly did, for the little audience of about 10 people who were left. This shows the character of a great band and the amazing spirit of everyone involved to make this such a succesful event.
Jon added “the kids got in very late, energised and exhausted, and learnt alot about what matters – positivity and teamwork. We’ll all be there next year to help out again.”
In the end it was another very succesful night and Jordon is very proud to be associated with the organisation.
We look forward to doing it all again next year.
Check out what the St. Elizabeth Hospice do on their website here