St. Joseph's Hospice is challenging people across Merseyside to sign up to its Challenge 55 Triathlon, or individual Run, Cycle, Swim events, to help it raise £55,000 to support local hospice care for the next 55 years.

Launched to mark its 55th Emerald Anniversary, events include a 5.5 mile run, a 55 mile bike ride and a 55 length swim. For the ultimate challenge, sports enthusiasts can take on the Challenge 55 Triathlon.

The running and cycling routes will start and finish at St. Joseph’s Hospice in Thornton and will take in some of the beautiful woodlands and scenery surrounding the hospice. The Challenge 55 swimming event will take place at a local swimming pool.

The event will take place on Sunday 1st October. Just choose which event you want to take part in, get your friends and family involved, sign up online and get fundraising via our Just Giving Challenge 55 page.

The swimming event will kick off at 8am, followed by the run at 11am and the cycling event at 1pm.

Julie McAdam, Senior Fundraiser at St. Joseph’s Hospice, said; “As a local charity, which provides end of life nursing care for over 200 people every year, we need to raise £6,850 every single day.

“During our special 55th Emerald Anniversary year, we’re appealing to our local community and local businesses to support us so we can continue providing this specialist care for the next 55 years.

“Challenge 55 is a great way to get involved or why not set your own Challenge 55? Just let us know what you plan to do by tweeting us @JospiceUK using the hashtag #EmeraldAppeal or sharing it with us on Facebook or Instagram.”

Registration for a Challenge 55 event is £10 per person or £25 for the Challenge 55 Triathlon. There is a minimum sponsorship of £50.

Sign up now or, to find out more, call 0151 932 6026 or email community.fundraisers@jospice.org.uk.