Over 500 participants united along the seafront promenade between Redcar and Marske on Saturday 14th March as the Teesside Hospice annual midnight walk returned.
More than £57,500 has been raised so far from this year’s event and with sponsorship money still coming in. Organisers expect this total will rise even further.
Tilly Roberts, community and events manager at Teesside Hospice said: “We’re so grateful to everyone involved in our Midnight Walk, from those who participated to the staff, volunteers and supporters who made it happen.
“It costs £18,500 every day to run our services and we receive less than 30% of that from statutory funding, meaning we rely on events like the Midnight Walk to ensure we can deliver these services and meet demand across Teesside.
Meeting at Redcar College, walkers were in high spirits as they danced to music played by DJ Alastair Reay.
After preparing for the walk with T- shirts, flashing head boppers and face paints, the crowd headed outside for a fun warm up led by staff on stage before setting off towards the seafront.
Passing cars beeped and cheered in support of the walkers along their 11km promenade trek.
Walkers laughed as one car of young men cruised slowly past with the words ‘I would walk 500 miles, and I would walk 500 more’ blasting out of the rolled down windows, as they played the song, ‘I’m Gonna Be (500 miles)’ by the Proclaimers.
Words of encouragement were also provided along the way by event volunteers at regular check points who clapped and high fived walkers on their journey.
One man said he comes all the way from Newcastle to volunteer for the midnight walk every year. Another said he had been volunteering the event for 15 years.
Many of the participants taking part in the Midnight Walk were doing so in memory of loved ones who are no longer with us.
Tilly said: “By taking part in events like our Midnight Walk, our supporters have made a huge impact on the care, compassion and dignity we can provide to families across Teesside – thank you.”
On return to the college in the early hours of Sunday morning, the atmosphere was much calmer as tired legs headed for the complimentary Domino’s pizza.
The community spirit was very much still awake though, as walkers congratulated each other on their way home.
For those who want to carry on walking, Teesside Hospice is challenging people to complete 31 miles in May.
Visit their website to sign up to run, jog, walk or wheel a total of 31 miles throughout May to take part.
