BBC's Nicholas Owen to officially launch Reigate Sleepwalk fundraiser (From Redhill And Reigate Life)

BBC's Nicholas Owen to officially launch Reigate Sleepwalk fundraiser

3:17pm Friday 21st September 2012 in News

Journalist, BBC newsreader and Reigate resident Nicholas Owen will be stepping out in the town after dark on Saturday, September 29, for a Surrey charity close to his heart.

For Nicholas will again be starting the Sleepwalk event in Priory Park at 10pm, raising money for The Children’s Trust.

It will be the third year in a row that the popular TV personality will have performed the walk opening ceremony.

He is vice-president of the Tadworth-based cause.

The Children's Trust is a national charity that provides care, education and therapy for children with multiple disabilities and complex health needs, and rehabilitation to children with an acquired brain injury.

The Trust runs the UK’s largest residential rehabilitation centre for paediatric acquired brain injury and has an on-site special school, The School for Profound Education.

This publishes The Profound Education Curriculum for children and young people with profound and multiple learning difficulties (PMLD).

Its Sleepwalk fundraiser is now in its third year and has so far raised more than £70,000.

The event aims to raise money for The Children’s Trust and to increase awareness of the important services the charity provides for some of the UK’s most severely disabled children.

Because of their complex health needs, a good night’s sleep is often a rare luxury for these children, and it is the same for parents, many of whom need to provide their child with round-the-clock care.

One of the services the Trust provides is short breaks - both at its site in Tadworth, or in the child’s own home - allowing parents to have a rest or to enjoy a good night’s sleep without interruption, knowing that their child is receiving all-night, professional nursing care.

The Sleepwalk event is a ten-mile walk around Reigate and Redhill, starting at 10pm and costing £15 to enter.

A refreshment break is provided by a local Indian restaurant, before walkers complete the second half of their walk back to the finish in Priory Park.

Open to all - families, friends, work colleagues and schools - registration includes a half-way refreshment break, limited-edition T-shirt and a medal at the finish.

To register call 01737 365018 or visit the website: www.thechildrenstrust.org.uk/sleepwalk