More than 1,000 women and 300 volunteers took part in the ninth St Luke’s (Cheshire) Hospice Nantwich to Crewe Midnight Walk.
The walk started at Reaseheath College where participants were given a rousing send off during a Redshift Radio outdoor stage show.
Walkers were also able to leave a candle lit bag at Reaseheath with a message to loved ones.
The 1,000+ walkers were a mix of women who were walking in memory of family and friends who had been supported by the Hospice, to groups of friends and colleagues who wanted to raise money to support the local cause.
Participants walked either 6.5 or 13.1 miles from the college through Nantwich and up to MMU campus where they were looked after by a team of volunteers with food and water, before sending them back to Reaseheath.
The women pledged £132,000 which, with match-funding gift aid and later donations, could better last year’s £180,000 and cover the running costs of St Luke’s Hospice for three full weeks.
Jane Thompson, St Luke’s head of events, said: “The Midnight Walk is always a wonderful night.
“So many loved ones are remembered and people also celebrate their own personal battles with illnesses including cancer.
“The walk is more than about raising money. It is about bringing people together, each of whom sets themselves a personal challenge to get round at a time of day when you naturally want to be in bed.
“Every single person on the walk is raising money with someone in mind.
“On behalf of all of the poorly people and their loved ones who desperately need St Luke’s to be here, thank you!”
People across the hospice’s entire catchment area took part, from Crewe, Nantwich, Winsford, Northwich, Middlewich, Holmes Chapel, Alsager, Audlem, Tarporley, Shavington, Hartford, Bunbury, Weaverham and Wrenbury and more.
Walker Tina Welsh, from Northwich, said: “We’ve never done the Walk before. We can’t believe how magical Reaseheath looked. The volunteers were amazing at dealing with so many of us registering, and fed us so well.
“Thank you St Luke’s for getting everyone together and making this the most memorable night of the year.”
Susan West, from Nantwich, said: “Having a chance to remember a loved one in this beautiful way filled us with joy and tears. There were so many wonderful, private yet poignant, messages.
“It was so humbling starting the Walk and seeing them on our route out of Reaseheath.”
Ms Thompson hailed one group of participants – Angela Moss, Margaret Ravenscroft, Cynthia Shaw, Rita Birch and Susan Stubbs.
She said: “This wonderful group of ladies are always full of smiles and so supportive of St Luke’s.
“Rita Birch has done all of nine Midnight Walks. She makes it her goal to be the first person to register every time we open a walk.”
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