ST Barnabas House patron Ambrose Harcourt is looking forward to taking part in Night to Remember for the first time on Saturday 30 June.

The former radio DJ, 70, is set to join hundreds of other supporters of the hospice by walking seven miles along Worthing seafront.

This year is the first time that Ambrose has taken part in the annual midnight walk, a ladies-only event in previous years but now open to men and children.

“Being a patron of St Barnabas House I couldn’t think of a better event to really help and encourage as many men and children as possible to support the event and help us to raise even more money,” he said.

“I’m inviting quite a few of my friends to come and support St Barnabas House and support me in doing the walk.

“Most of the people I’m inviting have never done Night to Remember before so it’s going to be a memorable evening for us.

“The thing I’m looking forward to, because it was normally all women, is this year we have got men and children taking part.

“It’s going to be a fantastic atmosphere, I’m really looking forward to it. Bring it on!”

Many of the people participating in Night to Remember will be walking in memory of loved ones who have been cared for by St Barnabas House.

Ambrose added: “A lot of people will be walking in memory of somebody they know who has sadly passed away here.

“I personally have had a couple of friends of mine pass away at St Barnabas and I had to come and visit them, so I’ll be walking in their memory as well, and I’ll be walking for the charity and all the people who use the services that we offer.

“I’ve lived in and around Sussex for most of my life really. I used to live in Goring-by-Sea and now I live in Angmering. St Barnabas House is synonymous to Worthing in many ways.

“I think local people should do everything they can to support the hospice, because if we didn’t have it we would miss it.”

This year, for the first time since the event first took place in 2007, men and children aged 10 or over can also take part in Night to Remember, as well as ladies.

“I think it’s great to open it up to more people, and I think we’ll have a lot of families there,” said Ambrose.

“I think it’s going to be tremendous which is why I’m really looking forward to being a part of it, it’s going to be a really good atmosphere.”

If you would like to sponsor Ambrose for taking part in Night to Remember, you can make a donation to his JustGiving page here: http://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ambrosen2r.

Registration for Night to Remember closes on Sunday 24 June and you can sign up at www.stbh.org.uk/nighttoremember. If you have any questions about registering, call 01903 706354.