Hundreds of women illuminated Weston beach during the Midnight Beach Walk on Friday night to help raise money for Weston Hospicecare.
Many of the 285 women who walked the 5km route did so in memory or to support loved ones suffering life-limiting illnesses who have been – or are being – treated by the hospice.
The event saw walkers clad in fairy lights and illuminated costumes start on the southern side of the Tropicana before heading to Royal Sands. They then turned around to walk along the beach and under the Grand Pier to Knightstone before walking back along the promenade and the pier before returning to the Tropicana via the beach.
It will be some time before the fundraising total is known, but all of the sponsorship money raised by participants will go to the hospice, thanks to the generous sponsorship of the Grand Pier, which supported the walk once again.
Weston Hospicecare event organiser Kelsey Dehaney thanked everyone who took part and all those who had supported the walk.
She said: “It was a fabulous occasion, and as ever we are indebted to everyone who took part for going to such great lengths to support Weston Hospicecare.
“We were thrilled to see so many people taking part in the Midnight Beach Walk, and really pleased to see how everyone embraced the spirit of the occasion.
“The warm-up from Anna of Eden Fitness was terrific fun, and the music from The Missing Cat Trio went down a storm. And, after last year’s stormy weather it was also brilliant to see that the night stayed dry for our intrepid walkers.
“Huge thanks to our Grand Pier sponsors for supporting us once again, all of our helpers and volunteer marshals on the night, and of course to everyone who took part in what proved a really special night. Your support means the world to all of us at Weston Hospicecare – and we’ll look forward to seeing you all again.”
It costs £4.2million a year to run Weston Hospicecare, but only a fifth of that is funded by the NHS – the rest comes from the hospice’s own fundraising efforts.
The next Weston Hospicecare event will be It’s A Hospice Knockout! at Clarence Park this Saturday, which begins at noon. The event will feature a family fun day, with a host of rides and attractions for visitors to enjoy.
Recruitment for dancers in the hospice’s next Strictly Fun Dancing event is now also underway. Log on to westonhospicecare.org.uk to find out more.