Despite the torrential rain tackled by thousands of fundraisers back in May, walkers have helped raise more than £200,000 to help care for people living with a progressive or terminal illness.

Organisers are delighted with the success of this year’s Midnight Walk, St Elizabeth Hospice’s flagship fundraising event.

Becky Jedrzejewski, events and challenges fundraiser at the hospice, said: “Despite the rain on the night, our first rain in 12 years, the atmosphere was incredible and participants have told us that they had a great time.

“The sponsorship money has been steadily coming in to the hospice since the event and we’re so please to tell people that all their hard work has raised over £200,000 to help care for local people and their families.”

The total currently stands at £214,877 with donations still flooding in.

Some 2,500 people took part in May’s Midnight Walk and each walked either the six mile or 10 mile route on the roads around Ipswich from Trinity Park, and back again, via the hospice on Foxhall Road, where a memory tree was waiting for people to add their tags with messages to remember and celebrate loved ones.

Supporters turned out in neon and sparkle outfits to support the event to help the charity which had given so much to their loved ones during their darkest days – supporting friends and family.

At the event, Fiona Ginn, from Holbrook, spoke of how she experienced the hospice’s services first-hand when her primary school teacher husband Mike died last year at the age of 29.

She said: “The hospice supported us every step of the way. The nursing team at the hospice was wonderful. It was the first time I had seen the hospice from a patient’s viewpoint. Nothing was too much trouble.

“I was allowed to stay with Mike in his room all day and all night.

“We were allowed our privacy as a family but the team was always there to make sure Mike was comfortable and cared for.”

Those who have yet to pay in their sponsorship money are encouraged to do so as soon as they can. This can be done by popping into the hospice reception to drop off donations, or cheques can be posted to ‘The Midnight Walk Team’, St Elizabeth Hospice, 565 Foxhall Road, Ipswich IP3 8LX.