In 2010 Northern Stage will turn 40. We are taking this opportunity to set ourselves the ambitious task of giving the theatre a fantastic birthday present of £250,000 which we plan to raise over the next year. The wonderful Northern Stage staff have generously offered, through a variety of initiatives, to raise £40,000 themselves. So, in order to kick-start the fundraising, on 3 & 4 July 2009, 40 teams of staff, friends, family and supporters will be walking 40 miles of Hadrian’s Wall, finishing at Northern Stage. I will be one of the walkers and hope you will be able to help me raise my individual target of £500 by sponsoring me.

Now I know you’ll want to know what we intend doing with the cash and the simple answer is lots, but if we raise all £250,000 a chunk will be squirreled away for a rainy day (and given the recession who knows how many rainy days there may be) so that we help safeguard our future for another 40 years. The remainder will go towards expanding our fabulous artistic programme of events and providing even wider opportunities for people of all ages to get involved with the performing arts.

If that isn’t enough to convince you to sponsor me, here’s the emotional blackmail bit! I have recently been diagnosed as having osteoarthritis in my right foot, which is excruciatingly painful and so this walk is a big personal challenge. I cannot promise that I will complete all 40 miles, but knowing that people have donated money will really spur me on.

Please sponsor me!