ONE thousand women are being signed up to take part in this year’s Starlight Walk on June 30.

The night time walk around Blackburn supports the East Lancashire Hospice.

Deana Mason, a Blackburn resident, will be one of the walkers.

She launched this year's event in memory of her father Michael Mason who was a day patient at the hospice when he became ill with methothelioma, a rare form of cancer which is caused by exposure to asbestos.

She said: “We already knew that there were other people were suffering from the same thing, but it made such a difference to our family to be able to meet them.”

For Deana, 42, the hospice’s role was invaluable and she said that it offered a “good change of scenery” for her late father.

Whilst running is banned in the walking-only event Deana last year managed to do the eight-mile walk to and from the Soccerdome on Haslingden Road in under two hours, and hopes to do the same this year.

She raised £500 last year for the hospice, and is hoping to raise even more in 2012.

The event’s organiser, Denise Gee, said participants will be given ‘message boards’ for them to highlight who they are taking part im memory of.

She said: "This will make the event more personal and will allow people to share their reasons for taking part."

The hospice, which costs around £2.8million to run each year, is funded largely by donations.

In the past the Starlight walk has managed to raise in excess of £70,000 and Denise is hoping that this year will be even bigger and better.

Despite being a women-only event, organisers are looking for male volunteers and marshalls to help out on the night.

To get involved in this event in any way contact Denise Gee on 01254 733411 or at denise.gee@eastlancspct.nhs.uk.