Midnight walkers weather the storm

WEATHERING the storm together is at the heart of the compassionate care St Luke's Hospice Plymouth offers patients and their families, and that was exactly the spirit embraced by the 1,100 warmhearted supporters who strode out on the charity's sell-out Midnight Walk last Friday night.

- JACKIE BUTLER

Heavy rain showers and some spectacular puddles could not deter the excited and emotional crowd from pounding the city's streets in memory of much-missed friends and family members, raising vital funds for the end-of-life services St Luke's provides in people's own homes and its own inpatient unit.

Entrants gathered in the Fan Zone at Plymouth Argyle's Home Park stadium from 7pm ready to take on the challenge of either the 13.1-mile, six-mile or three-mile routes, aimed at all ages and abilities. On the backs of their official bright pink T-shirts, they had written the names of loved ones they would be thinking of during the evening, many of whom had received care from St Luke's teams at the end of their lives.

Many jazzed up their outfits with glow-in-the-dark make-up, cowboy hats, net skirts, flashing bunny ears, boas and headdresses, some adding photos of the loves ones they were honouring.

As several huge downpours drenched the city, they refused to let it rain on their parade. Volunteers handed out waterproof ponchos, while a team from Clubbercise kept the adrenalin flowing leading a lively musical warm-up routine.