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Moya Cole Hospice Giant Walk

21st March 2027

Walk Together. Challenge Yourself. Change Lives.

Next March, we will come together for a unique endurance challenge in support of Moya Cole Hospice.

Moya Cole Hospice provides specialist care and support to people affected by life-limiting illnesses across Greater Manchester. Their services help patients live as well as possible, while also supporting their families and loved ones through some of life’s most difficult times.

As an independent charity, they need to raise £20,000 every day to continue providing care free of charge. By walking for Moya Cole Hospice, you’ll be helping local people access expert care, comfort and support when they need it most.

Whether you’re looking to take on your first marathon, spend quality time with friends or colleagues, or simply support a fantastic cause, the Giant Walk is designed to be an enjoyable, professionally organised experience that everyone can be proud of.

Choose Your Challenge

1) Full Marathon – 42km

Our flagship challenge follows the Hale to Hale Giant Walk, beginning at Hale Lighthouse before passing through the Cheshire countryside, the Mersey Estuary, the Manchester Ship Canal and the Trans Pennine Trail.

The route is predominantly flat, following scenic waterside paths, traffic-free trails and quiet country lanes, making it an achievable challenge for anyone prepared to put in a little training beforehand.

Along the way you’ll enjoy changing landscapes, regular support stops and the encouragement of colleagues walking alongside you, before celebrating together at the finish.

2) Half Marathon – 21km

If you’d prefer a shorter challenge, you can join the walk at Stockton Heath and complete the second half of the route back to Hale.

You’ll still experience the atmosphere, camaraderie and sense of achievement that make the Giant Walk so special, finishing alongside colleagues taking on the full marathon.

All for Moya Cole Hospice!

A Giant Walk is about spending a Sunday outdoors, stepping away from everyday life and sharing an experience that brings people together while raising money for Moya Cole Hospice – a remarkable local cause.

Whether you’re walking with family, friends, colleagues or taking on the challenge by yourself, you’ll share the day with others walking for Moya Cole Hospice. You’ll finish with new memories, a genuine sense of achievement and a very good reason to ask your family, friends and colleagues to support you.

Every step you take, and every pound you raise, will help Moya Cole Hospice continue to provide care and support for local people and their loved ones.

BOOK YOUR PLACE

The Route and Preparation

Detailed Route Maps, training and kit suggestions and GPX files will be available in the event guide published beforehand or you can view the route on Strava now *Route subject to minor variances. To get started please complete your registration

FAQs

The Giant Walk will bring Moya Cole supporters together for a memorable outdoor challenge. Every step you take, and every pound you raise, will help Moya Cole Hospice continue to provide care and support for local people and their families.

Whether you choose the Half Marathon or the Full Marathon, you'll be fully supported throughout the day by experienced event leaders.

Moya Cole Hospice provides specialist care and support to people affected by life-limiting illnesses across Greater Manchester. Their services help patients live as well as possible, while also supporting their families and loved ones through some of life's most difficult times.

As an independent charity, they need to raise £20,000 every day to continue providing our care free of charge. By walking for Moya Cole Hospice, you'll be helping local people access expert care, comfort and support when they need it most.

There are two options:

Full Marathon (42km)
Walk the complete Hale to Hale route, taking in the Mersey Estuary, Manchester Ship Canal and Trans Pennine Trail.

Half Marathon (21km)
Join the group in Stockton Heath at lunchtime and complete the second half of the route.

Both groups will finish together and enjoy the same finish celebrations.

Yes.

The route has been carefully selected because it is predominantly flat, following canal paths, riverside trails and quiet country lanes.

Although walking a marathon is still a challenge, the terrain makes it much more achievable than many people expect.

Most Giant Walk participants are not experienced endurance walkers before they begin training.

They often sound much harder than they feel.

Many of our participants arrive convinced they won't be able to complete the distance. Yet with sensible pacing, regular breaks and plenty of encouragement, they often achieve far more than they imagined.

You don't have to be an athlete. You simply have to keep putting one foot in front of the other.

For many people, the hardest part is signing up. The finish line usually takes care of itself. And our experienced team are alongside the whole way to support and encourage.

The walk starts at the Giant Childe of Hale Statue on the Merseyside coast at 8am. We recommend booking the support coach which means you park or be dropped off in Hale, Cheshire
You can then use our shuttle bus to ride to the start at 7am.
The Shuttle Bus, if booked, will be running alongside the group all day, have an onboard WC and you can store personal items on it.

You won't be taking on the challenge alone. From the moment you arrive until the finish celebrations, you'll be supported by the Giant Walk team embedded in the walk.

Our leaders and mentors include outdoor and paediatric first aiders, Mountain Training professionals and Search and Rescue personnel amongst other people. Each bring their own story to tell you and listen to yours.

The walk is led by experienced event leaders who will manage navigation, pace and participant welfare throughout the day. Team members are trained in outdoor first aid and carry comprehensive first aid equipment, and also carry with them an 'Ouch Pouch' containing essentials such as blister treatment and other items to help deal with the most common walking niggles before they become bigger problems.

A dedicated support coach accompanies the event, transporting bags, spare clothing, additional drinking water and refreshments between key locations. The coach also provides transport for anyone who needs to leave the walk early or simply requires a rest.

A support cyclist travels between walking groups, marking the route, helping maintain communication, checking on participants and responding quickly to any issues that may arise.

Regular comfort breaks, welfare checks and refreshment stops are planned throughout the day, including a picnic lunch at the halfway point for all participants before the walk continues towards Hale.

Our aim is simple: to provide a safe, enjoyable and well-supported experience, allowing you to focus on the challenge, enjoy the company of your colleagues and cross the finish line with confidence.

No- if you have booked the support coach it will carry your spare clothing, additional water and any personal items you don't wish to walk with. The coach will meet walkers at regular intervals during the day when you can collect and drop off items and also use the onboard WC.

We recommend carrying only your walking essentials in a small rucksack.

Some training is recommended, particularly for the Full Marathon.

Even a few longer weekend walks in the weeks before the event will make a significant difference.

As a guide, we recommend completing at least half of your chosen distance before the event. For example, if you're taking on the Full Marathon, aim to complete a walk of around 20–21km during your training.

Most importantly, complete this training walk in the same shoes and socks you intend to wear on the day. This is one of the best ways to ensure your footwear is comfortable and to identify any issues before the event.

We recommend that you avoid wearing brand-new footwear on the day of the event, even if it feels comfortable when you first try it on.

We'll provide further training guidance and a suggested kit list in the lead up to the walk.

We believe there's something special about endurance walking.

When you spend several hours walking, something changes. The pace of life slows down, conversations become more meaningful and you start to notice the world around you. The pressure to constantly check your phone disappears, replaced by fresh air, open spaces and the simple rhythm of putting one foot in front of the other.

Unlike many sporting events, Giant Walk isn't about competing against other people. It's about discovering what you're capable of. Whether you're walking 5km or taking on a marathon-distance challenge, the goal is to enjoy the journey, challenge yourself and finish with a sense of achievement.

That's why so many people describe Giant Walk as being about much more than the distance. It's an opportunity to improve your physical wellbeing, clear your mind, spend uninterrupted time with family, friends or colleagues and build new friendships with people you meet along the way.

Our events are professionally organised and supported throughout, allowing you to focus on the experience rather than the logistics. There are no finish-line sprints or pressure to keep up with anyone else. Everyone walks at their own pace, encouraging one another and sharing the same goal: reaching the finish together.

For many people, the greatest reward isn't the medal or the distance they've covered. It's the confidence that comes from achieving something they once thought was beyond them.

Every participant receives:

  • Moya Cole Hospice t-shirt or walking top (cost)
  • Optional fundraising certificate
  • Fundraising support from our friendly events team
  • A Giant Walk finisher's medal
  • Food and refreshments will be available to purchase at the finish

  • Professionally led throughout
  • Carefully planned, achievable route
  • Half and full marathon options
  • Fully supported with welfare and transport
  • Finish medal
  • A day challenge that you'll remember long after the finish line