More than 1,200 people have signed up to a hospice’s biggest fundraising event of the year.

St Elizabeth Hospice’s Midnight Walk is just weeks away and hundreds of men and women are now planning their pirate-themed costumes for the occasion.

The event, which takes place on Saturday, May 16, starts and finishes at Ipswich Town Football Club.

It is supported by the Ipswich Star, East Anglian Daily Times and Town 102.

Plenty of entertainment has been lined up to keep participants motivated before they set off on their chosen five, eight or 13-mile walk or run.

Acts including the Torwood Wheelers, Just Day Dance and Escape Reality are returning after popular demand following appearances at previous Midnight Walks.

Just Jay Dance will be leading the pirate-themed warm-up – with help from Town 102 presenter Tony Horton and mascot Cheeko the Monkey.

The Torwood Wheelers, a group of wheel gymnasts, and Escape Reality, a free running, acrobatic stunt group, will be performing all event.

Gavin Lamb, St Elizabeth Hospice’s events fundraiser, said: “The Midnight Walk has developed and grown so much since it began nine years ago.

“It is now a whole night of fun – we have music, exhilarating entertainment, an energetic, themed warm-up – and the atmosphere is always electric.

“And most importantly, we have hundreds of men and women uniting, all to raise much-needed funds so St Elizabeth Hospice can continue to improve life for local people living with a progressive illness.”

Participants, who are all asked to raise sponsorship, will also be able to get in the pirate-themed spirit by donning fancy dress including eye patches, bandanas, light-up flashing cutlasses, tri-corn hats and more from St Elizabeth Hospice shops and on the night.

Registration costs £15. To sign up visit www.midnightwalkipswich.co.uk or call 01473 707043 by Thursday, May 14.

Are you taking part in this year’s Midnight Walk? Call newsdesk on 01473 324736.