THE Friends of Sussex Hospices is launching its hospices trail tomorrow.

There is still time to get a team together to walk one stretch of the trail, becoming part of a simultaneous relay to mark the official launch of the 200-mile route.

All money raised will go to support Sussex hospices.

Entrants can walk their chosen route at a pace that suits them.

To take part, team leaders can sign up online for a one-off fee of £80.

This covers a team of up to eight walkers.

The team then chooses one of the trail’s 26 walks and whether to raise money for Friends of Sussex Hospices or for a specific Sussex hospice.

Before the day each team will have downloaded the iFootpath app and also downloaded their chosen walk.

The Sussex Hospices Trail has taken two years to develop.

It is unique to Sussex and the UK’s only permanent long-distance footpath dedicated to raising awareness of the work of hospice care providers.

Kathy Gore, chairwoman of Friends of Sussex Hospices, said: “Our walk the hospice trail event will see all 12 Sussex hospice areas connected by teams of walkers.

“Some will be walking to raise funds for their local hospice, some will be walking in memory of a friend or family member they hold dear, and some will be walking simply to enjoy our beautiful Sussex scenery.

“Whatever their reasons for walking we hope that every step will raise awareness of the vital role of the hospice movement.”

Alison Sampson, who is taking part, said: “We are a group of nurses from both St Michael’s Hospice and from district nursing and we are delighted be able to help raise vital funds that will benefit the many patients and families we are privileged to look after.”

The event will raise money for St Wilfrid’s in Chichester; Chestnut Tree House near Arundel; Demelza, Hospice in the Weald; Leo House at Home; The Martlets in Hove; St Barnabas in Worthing; St Catherine’s in Crawley; St Michael’s in St Leonards; St Peter and St James in North Chailey; St Wilfrid’s in Eastbourne and the Sussex Snowdrop Trust.