What’s orange, has a pair of bunny ears, and will be seen lighting up Gravesend’s streets in great numbers this month?

Chances are, it’s one of the participants of ellenor’s annual Twilight Walk, which – after a virtual event in 2020 – is returning in full force on September 24.

Now in its 12th year, participants can choose from either an 8km or 12km route, starting and finishing at Gravesend's Cyclopark. Registration is from 6pm and the walk sets off from 7pm.

Among those taking part will be husband and wife Steve and Tracey Crow.

In 2012, Steve’s previous wife passed away under the care of ellenor, while – just a year later – Tracey’s mother did the same, also after a brave battle with cancer.

Tracey said: “The way ellenor handled things was amazing. For us as a family, and for Mum. They were right with her all the way through, coming round once or twice a week. You didn’t feel alone with them. But they also treated my mum as a person – they didn’t just talk to us, and ignore her –because it was still my mum’s decision, and my mum’s life. The way she passed away was so peaceful."

Steve added: “It’s the best care anyone could want, really – I couldn’t fault them.”

Swanscombe-born Steve works in construction, and has been touched at how many of his colleagues have put their hands in their pockets to support his fundraising.

Tracey, meanwhile – whose ladies’ clothes shop For Girlys, in Stone Street, Gravesend, has just celebrated its 25th anniversary – has taken advantage of the 10p carrier bag charge for all businesses, and is donating it all to ellenor.

She said: “I worked out that if I have 10 customers a day, and it’s 10p per customer, that’s a pound every day.

"I’m open six days a week; so over the course of a year, that’s £312 raised for ellenor.”

The last walk in 2019 saw 1,176 take part donning fancy dress, the charity's trademark bright orange t-shirts and flashing head gear.

Steve said: “Get your bunny ears on and get out there! There’s such a macho image with fellas, and I think blokes need to be a bit more open, and not afraid to show their feminine side and emotions. You’ve got to push your boundaries a bit, and you will have a laugh. You get out there, and it’s a good craic.”

The ellenor hospice is the only one in Kent to offer services to both adults and children, providing pain and symptom relief, palliative care, end-of-life care, respite, bereavement support and emotional and spiritual care.

Supporter engagement officer Melissa Rosenqvist said: “We rely on public donations to offer our services, so events such as this are really important to us.

"Now the world has re-opened and people are beginning to feel more comfortable meeting up in groups, this outside event is the perfect opportunity to get friends and family together to go for a walk and know you’re making a difference to people’s lives.”

Also taking part will be all 26 staff from event sponsor Esquire Developments, a housebuilding firm based in Longfield, who are hoping to raise £3,000.

Esquire director David Braddon said: “ellenor is a really important charity and means a lot to us at Esquire. We’re pleased to be able to support this event both behind the scenes as sponsors and on the night as participants.”

You can sponsor them at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/esquiredevelopments

If you would like to take part, it costs £20 for adults, or £10 for children, and there is no minimum fundraising amount. Participants are simply asked to raise what they can.

All finishers will receive a t-shirt and medal. To find out more and sign up, visit ellenor.org/twilight

Read more: All the latest news from Gravesend