Aunt in charity challenge for her niece

A GRIEVING woman is to step out for a charity challenge in memory of her niece who died last month, aged just 29.

Stella Hunting, 49, of South Elmham, Bungay, will take part in the ladies' only St Elizabeth Hospice Midnight Walk on Saturday, May 22. Mrs Hunting's niece Melissa Bridges died at the hospice on January 15, following a brave battle against a brain tumour.

She will join around 50 of Melissa's relatives and friends when they take part in the eight-mile fundraising walk through Ipswich town centre at night time. The group are calling themselves Marvellous Mell's Midnight Madness.

Mrs Hunting, who hopes to raise sponsorship money for the hospice, said: “Melissa put up a brave fight and didn't let her illness get on top of her, she just got on with it. I last saw her on New Year's Day and she was laughing and joking, but she died two weeks later in the hospice.

“It will be a poignant night when we do the Midnight Walk, but I have good memories of her and it is the sort of event Melissa would have enjoyed. She had a lot of support from the hospice and she would like the idea we are giving something back to the charity.”

St Elizabeth Hospice Midnight Walk organiser Emily Sullivan said: “The Midnight Walk is our biggest fundraising event of the year and many people like Mrs Hunting will be walking in memory of a loved-one. It will be a moving night but also a lot of fun and we hope as many women as possible from all over Suffolk will join us on the night.”

St Elizabeth Hospice is an independent charity, which is based in Ipswich, but provides care for patients throughout East Suffolk, including the Beccles and Bungay areas. It costs around �6m a year to run and relies heavily on public support and fundraising.

To take part in the event, or find out more, visit www.midnightwalk

ipswich.co.uk or telephone 01473 707043.