Sherlock Shows Support for Maggie's Centre

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TV star Benedict will wave off walkers on London Night Hike

Benedict Cumberbatch, better known as TV's latest Sherlock Holmes, will wave off the walkers taking part in Maggie's Night Hike on Friday September 17.

Benedict, who will return as the Baker Street sleuth in a second series next year, visited Maggie's London to show his support for the Cancer Caring Centre, by Charing Cross Hospital in Fulham Palace Road, and to see the work that goes on within the centre.

"To combine walking, architectural discovery and philanthropy in one event is quite unique," said Benedict, " and I am delighted to be the person that will start this extraordinary event off."

Online registration for the London Night Hike is now open, with walkers invited to choose either a ten mile or 20 mile hike.

The London Night Hike takes place on the eve of Open House Weekend and offers all hikers exclusive access to some of London’s iconic buildings.

The 20 mile hike will complete a loop around late-night London starting with Channel 4 in Westminster and the Argentine Ambassador's Residence, Royal Geographical Society in Kensington. Next is a cup of tea and a brownie at the award winning Maggie's London Centre.

Hikers will then head north, back into central London taking in the Royal Society of Medicine, Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and Horse Guards. This all night hike takes between seven and ten hours to complete, depending on how long people linger in the buildings.

The ten mile hike will take in buildings incluiding Guildhall, Channel 4, Southbank Centre, City Hall and Bloomberg Space and will take three to six hours to complete, depending on the time people choose to spend in the buildings.

Start times are staggered from 7.15pm onwards. Last year, 2,000 people took part in the hike and raised an amazing £689,000, and this year's Maggie's aims to surpass that total.

All funds raised by the hikers will be used to help Maggie's reach their goal of opening six new Cancer Caring Centres across the UK by 2012 and support the running costs of existing centres.

For more details of registration costs and the minimum participants are asked to raise, visit Maggie's Night Hike 2010.

If you have questions about the event call 0300 123 1801 or email londonnighthike@maggiescentres.org

September 7, 2010