If you’ve ever fancied swapping your slippers for trainers and doing something brilliant for your community (all under the glow of the moonlight), this is your moment.

Milton Keynes’ much-loved Midnight Moo is back — and Willen Hospice has just released a limited number of ‘dis-cow-nted’ tickets for those quick enough to snap them up.

Registration officially opens on Friday 26 June, and if history tells us anything, places won’t hang around for long.

A night that’s more than just a walk

Starting at 10pm from a buzzing Middleton Hall in Centre:MK, this isn’t your average stroll. The Midnight Moo, sponsored by Specsavers MK, gives you two options: a 5-mile route finishing at GoodGym MK in Kiln Farm, or a 10-mile challenge looping back to the city centre.

But before you even take your first step, Middleton Hall will be alive with music, entertainment and face painting — the electric ‘at-moo-sphere’ the event has become famous for. It’s joyful. It’s noisy. It’s wonderfully pink.

And along the way? Volunteer marshals will be there to guide and cheer you on, because no one takes on the Moo alone. Every walker earns a finisher’s medal — a small but mighty symbol of what you’ve achieved.

Why every mile matters

Of course, the Midnight Moo isn’t just about clocking up steps. It’s about showing up for local families when they need it most.

Participants are encouraged to raise £125 each, or £500 per team. Entry fees simply cover the cost of staging the event, which means it’s the sponsorship raised that directly funds hospice care across Milton Keynes.

Since 1981, Willen Hospice has been providing free, specialist care and support to people affected by life-limiting illness. It costs £11 million each year to run its full range of services — and just 12.7% of that comes from ongoing NHS funding.

That leaves £9.6 million to be raised through donations and fundraising. Every single year.

Which is why events like Midnight Moo matter so much.

Walking for love, walking for life

For many, the night is deeply personal.

Paul Wightman took part for the first time last year, walking alongside his two sons and 14 other team members in memory of his late wife, Ange.

“Ange passed away in November 2024 aged just 51,” says Paul. “I can’t thank Willen Hospice enough for what they did. It wasn’t just about the exceptional care that my wife received – it was also the support and the caring nature they had for the rest of the family. I try to give back as much as I can.

“While a lot of the night is about the memories of my wife, it’s also about looking after the living as well. Focusing on positive things like walking, getting out and keeping fit. Some people have really trained to do this, because walking 10 miles is quite a big achievement. I’m very proud of them.”

It’s grief and gratitude, side by side. It’s remembrance and resilience in one long, luminous night.

Grab your place (before they’re gone)

From Monday 2 March, a limited number of discounted tickets will be available. Entry including a T-shirt and finisher’s medal is £20 (usually £25), or £15 for medal-only entry (usually £20).

And if walking isn’t for you? There are plenty of volunteering roles on the night too — from cheering squads to route marshals — so you can still be part of something special.

So, will you join the herd this year?

To secure a discounted place or find out more about volunteering, visit willen-hospice.org.uk/moo — and take that first step towards making a real difference in Milton Keynes.