MARY Stevens Hospice has announced the annual Neon Night Run at Himley Hall will now take place on Friday, September 28 – a week later than originally scheduled.

In a statement by the hospice’s head of fundraising, Charlotte Schofield, the charity announced that due to the rapidly expanding scale of two events on at Himley Hall on the same day, the decision had been taken to move the run back a week.

As well as being the original date penned for the Neon-themed night run which attracts more than 1,000 runners each year, September 21 is also the start date of Dubs Collective’s three-day ‘Party in the Park’ Volkswagen festival.

Due to the increasing scale of that event, which has experienced huge interest and thousands of ticket sales, and growing interest in the hospice’s 80’s themed Neon Night Run this year, all parties have decided that moving the charity fun run is in the best interest of all involved.

All runners who have already signed up to take part in the charity event are being offered a free one-day pass to the VW festival and are being advised to contact the hospice fundraising team to take advantage of that offer.

Dubs Collective will also be sponsoring the Neon Night Run and have committed to working in partnership with the hospice on events throughout 2018.

Charlotte said: “This is not a decision we've taken lightly or without due consideration and diligence, however given the ever-increasing scale of both our Neon Night Run, and Dubs' Party in the Park, we have decided that it is in the best interest of our supporters and their festival goers that we move back a week so that both events can flourish.

“Dubs Collective and Himley Hall have been open and collaborative throughout this process and we are delighted that the organising team at Dubs Collective, in particular, have become highly engaged with our work and have offered their support to the charity both in the immediate future and longer-term as a partner.

“Starting with the Neon Run which they have so kindly offered to become the main sponsor of for 2018.”

For more information about the Neon Night Run or to sign-up online, visit www.marystevenshospice.co.uk/event/neon-night-run-2018, or to speak to the hospice about the change in date, call 01384 377 778 or email info@mshfundraising.co.uk.