What a night - thank you! Ladies! You did it! You took part in St Elizabeth Hospice's Midnight Walk and you should be very proud. And we are very grateful.
Over 2,200 women left the start line at Ipswich Town Football Club between 10.30pm and midnight on Saturday May 22nd and completed the eight-mile circuit around the town centre. We hope you are recovering well and enjoyed the event.
Between you, around £250,000 was raised for St Elizabeth Hospice. That is a fantastic amount - which is more than last year - and will have a real impact in helping us to provide specialist services free of charge for people in East Suffolk who have an illness from which they will not recover, as well as ensuring there is support available for their carers and families.
The Midnight Walk 2010 was such a success that we have just been told it will go ahead next year. So make a note in your diary for next May and we will let you know as soon as the date is confirmed. The atmosphere on the night was amazing and the weather was just right.
The first group of walkers were led out at 10.30pm by determined breast cancer sufferer Julie Collis, of Ipswich, who just weeks ago had a mastectomy but still wanted to take part, and St Elizabeth Hospice's chief executive Jane Loughlin.
Hospice chief executive Jane Loughlin said: "I would like to say a huge thank you to all the women who took part in the Midnight Walk 2010 for St Elizabeth Hospice. It was a tremendous night. I am aware that despite all the fun and laughter many of you were walking in memory of a loved-one or because you have a personal connection to the Hospice or know someone who has benefited from its care."
The entertainment en route proved a hit, particularly the muscly bare-chested men from Felixstowe at St Augustine's Roundabout. Our friendly firemen at the Colchester Road station also got into the spirit of things and the Town 102 mascots added to the fun factor. The fancy dress worn by the women was excellent and added to the atmosphere.
You can tell us your experiences of the night and post your pictures on our Midnight Walk facebook page while videos can be viewed and posted at youtube. Don't forget to look out in the Evening Star on Monday May 24th and July's Suffolk Magazine for more pictures.
We also hope to see you outside Debenhams in Ipswich on Saturday June 5 between 10am and 3pm to see more pictures and meet up with our fundraising team.
Thank you all so much. And thank you to our sponsors the Evening Star, East Anglian Daily Times, Star Advertiser and Town 102. Let's hope we see you all again next year!