RECORD WALK ATTRACTS 10,000

By Elaine Squire - Monday, May 19, 2008

A long line of walkers on the final stage of this year's Walk the Wight on Sunday. Pictures by Jennifer Burton.

VIDEO FOOTAGEAROUND 10,000 people took advantage of perfect walking conditions to take part in yesterday’s (Sunday) Walk the Wight in aid of Newport's Earl Mountbatten Hospice.
Early morning cloud and drizzle were replaced by glorious sunshine as participants walked, ran, stilt-walked, hobbled and limped their way across the Island.
Before Sunday, 8,275 walkers had registered to walk either the full 26.5 miles between Bembridge and Alum Bay, half the distance, or the newly-introduced eight-mile Flat Walk along the cycle path from Sandown to Newport, and organisers have estimated that more than 1,000 more registered on the day.
Hospice fundraiser Karen Eeles said: “After last year’s torrential rain, who would have thought we’d get so many people? The atmosphere was fantastic.
“It takes a year’s hard work to organise but on the day, it’s all worth it.”
Fundraisers are hoping the total raised will exceed last year’s figure of £230,000.
One walker who completed the whole Bembridge to Alum Bay course, 64-year-old Mary Ralph, of Alverstone, said: “The day was full of courageous people helping each other with a wonderful spirit of camaraderie.
“They say one in three people will get cancer, so it seems fitting that we should do this walk for the hospice because it’ll probably touch most families.
“It was great to see people of all ages and abilities, with lots of youngsters in particular taking part."

Earl Mountbatten Hospice Walk The Wight 2008.
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• Pictures from our online gallery www.iwcpgallery.co.uk below. Click on the image for a larger version.

RECORD WALK ATTRACTS 10,000

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