A MAGICAL charity event that sees hundreds of women of all ages, shapes and sizes take to the moonlit streets of Kendal looks set to spread even more sparkle in 2009.

Now in its third year, the CancerCare Star Walk 2009 is gearing up to be the best yet, with hundreds of women expected to don their hiking boots and sparkly accessories for a 15km trek around the Auld Grey Town.

This year, the local charity is promising a night to remember, with a spectacular firework display, street art and a host of other surprises in store.

“The walkers will still set off from Lakes Leisure on Burton Road but the route around Kendal will be different,” said Nicki Hearne, fundraising co-ordinator at CancerCare. “There will also be lots of added extras that we didn’t have in previous years.”

Aside from the new route, the biggest change will be the start time, which will move from midnight to 9pm on Saturday, May 9.

Ms Hearne explained that although the 12am start added a sense of excitement to the proceedings, it also put some women off.

“By moving Star Walk forward three hours we hope to make it more accessible to people, as some women don’t want to be out at three or four in the morning,” she said.

With centres on Blackhall Road in Kendal and Slyne Road in Lancaster, CancerCare is a local charity that provides free support, therapy and advice to cancer patients, their families and carers and those who have been bereaved by the disease in the South Lakes and North Lancashire.

The charity receives very little funding from central government and relies on the generosity of local people.

Ms Hearne said that the total raised by Star Walk to date was around £200,000 and added: “Star Walk is a very important event in the CancerCare fundraising year, as well as being a really fun and magical occasion.”

In 2008, CancerCare celebrated its 25th anniversary with the launch of the CancerCare Silver Jubilee Appeal, a £2.1m campaign to improve and expand its services.

With the campaign still in action, it is even more important to support events like Star Walk.

To sign up for the event, which is being sponsored by the Westmorland Shopping Centre, visit www.starwalk.org.uk.