An IT support team from Myson Pages will undertake the 45-mile circular route known as The Rochdale Way over two days in a fundraising bid for Springhill Hospice. The walk begins from Owd Betts and follows a largely anticlockwise course around the borough, passing through Heywood, Middleton, Newhey, Ogden and Hollingworth Lake before reaching The Moorcock in Littleborough.
Two-day route and public welcome
The trek is scheduled to run across Friday and Saturday, with walkers stopping at The Moorcock at approximately 5.30pm on the first day. Springhill Hospice has asked friends, family and members of the public to join that rendezvous to greet the team and offer support.
- Start point: Owd Betts (day one)
- Halfway point: The Moorcock, Littleborough — public welcome at 5.30pm
- Day two: completion of circuit via Rochdale's "Three Peaks" — Blackstone Edge, Brown Wardle and Knowl Hill — returning to Owd Betts
Why the walk matters
Springhill Hospice provides specialist care for local people with life-limiting illnesses. In a statement included in local coverage, Vicki Barnett, Senior Corporate Fundraiser at Springhill, said the charity is "incredibly grateful" to Myson Pages for choosing to take on the challenge and stressed that the funds raised help maintain care and support for patients and families.
"Completing the Rochdale Way is no small feat, and their determination and commitment to making a difference is truly remarkable."
The hospice and organisers have encouraged donations via the Myson Pages JustGiving page. No specific fundraising target was published in the local report.
Local geography and visibility
The route highlights countryside and community landmarks around the borough and brings walkers into several population centres where neighbours can see and support them. The inclusion of the Rochdale "Three Peaks" on the final day adds a notable local challenge before the return to the starting point.
| Day | Planned activity |
|---|---|
| Day one | Set off from Owd Betts; anticlockwise route through Heywood, Middleton, Newhey, Ogden, Hollingworth Lake to The Moorcock |
| Day two | Complete circuit via Blackstone Edge, Brown Wardle and Knowl Hill; return to Owd Betts |
Members of the public who wish to support the team are invited to meet them at The Moorcock at the stated time or to donate through the online fundraising page. The event demonstrates a continuing pattern of local businesses and groups taking on physical challenges to support Springhill Hospice.
