This is the second year of the Southend ‘Moonlight Colourthon’ event which is organised by Southend Round Table 106. At Southend Round Table we’re constantly made aware of charities that are in need of ongoing and new financial resources to aid them in their work and, it is primarily this, which inspired us to create an event that would empower them to do so, an umbrella event so to speak. Our vehicle for doing this is our ‘Moonlight Colourthon’ which is, in essence, a walk with a difference. In 2007, our first year, a staggering £146,000 was pledged by our entrants this, together with Gift Aid, could potentially increase the final amount to in excess of £180,000 which will benefit some 206 different national and local charities.

The object of the event is for walkers to walk a half marathon (13.1 miles) at night, walkers are encouraged to dress as brightly as their imagination will allow them to! This year’s event sets off from Chalkwell Park at 8pm on Saturday 5th July, 2008. It takes in the waterfront along Southend Seafront and Westcliff’s picturesque cliff tops with their brisk sea breezes, drops down overlooking the famous pleasure pier and then travels through the exclusive Chalkwell Hall Estate, past Old Leigh with it’s quaint cottages and fisherman’s sheds returning back through Leigh itself, finishing back at Chalkwell Park.

The walk is only open to entrants aged 16 or over. Walkers will register in advance and nominate their chosen charitable organisation for which they intend to raise funds. Our only requirement is that your charity must be registered with the Charities Commission. The entrance fee for the Southend Moonlight Colourthon has been kept at £10 which includes an exclusive brightly coloured ‘Colourthon’ T-shirt carrying the ‘Moonlight Colourthon’ logo this is to cover all set up costs and your medal to proudly boast that you’ve completed your walk. Following your registration you will receive detailed confirmation of your entrance together with sponsorship forms and other event information. As mentioned the registration fee is to cover set up costs but any surplus will be donated directly to our Chairman's nominated charity which, this year, is 'Southend PHAB' (Registered Charity No. 285118) Southend PHAB aims to promote and encourage the coming together, on equal terms, of disabled and non-disabled people, details of which can be found at www.southendphab.co.uk. Should you not have a particular charity you wish to support but would like to enter the event we would be delighted for you to walk for Southend PHAB, just enter them as your nominated charity on the membership form.

All the sponsorship money that you raise will be collected by your nominated charity in it’s entirety and, furthermore, for each of your sponsors that ticks the Gift Aid box on the sponsorship form the charity will also benefit from a tax refund of 28% of the total raised (e.g. every £10 raised will be worth £12.80 to your charity).

So, what are you waiting for? Get your forms returned, get training and you too can take the challenge and . . .