Giuliana steps out for charity on her birthday (From Messenger Newspapers)

Giuliana celebrates her birthday by tackling the Manchester Midnight Walk

12:00pm Wednesday 18th April 2012 in News

GIULIANA Waters is celebrating her 50th birthday - by going for a late-night charity walk.

She has sent out special invitations to family and friends to join her on the Manchester Midnight Walk on Saturday, June 16.

Giuliana, an administrator at Hale-based financial advisers Kellands, is doing the walk in memory of her mother, Carmela, who died in January just three months after she took ill.

She thought she was suffering from nothing more than back ache but it out turned to be cancer.

Carmela, who was 75, spent her final days at St Ann’s Hospice and her daughter was so impressed by the care she received at the hospice at Heald Green that she has come up with a novel way of marking her special birthday and fundraising for the charity at the same time.

“I’ve asked my friends not to buy me a present but to join me in the walk instead,” she explained.

“They were a little surprised at first when they got the invite but we’re going to have a great night.”

Her invitation reads: “How do you fancy a girly night out in Manchester, meet up about 9.30 pm and then see where the night takes us?

“Yes, I know where we’re going and I can promise you will be home and tucked up in bed by 3.30 am and feeling positively fitter and with no hangover.”

The 10 kilometre walk through the city centre streets is the flagship event of St Ann’s Hospice. Although open to everyone, this year’s event is themed a ‘walk to remember’ allowing walkers to honour the memory of loved ones.

It is expected that more than 3,000 walkers will take part, raising valuable funds for St Ann’s which provides free care to more than 3,000 adults with life-limiting illnesses each year in Greater Manchester.

“When I was involved in the hospice through my mum I saw just how much they rely on fundraising,” said Giuliana, whose team of around 15 partygoers will include daughter Daniella and son Matthew.

Giuliana, who is 50 six days before the walk, is herself recovering from breast cancer, having finished treatment a year ago.

* The Manchester Midnight Walk starts at 11.30 pm from Manchester Central. Registration costs £12 before April 13 and £15 after that date. A rate of £8 applies for walkers aged 11 to 17. To enter go to www.manchestermidnightwalk.org.uk or call 0161 498 3631.