HUNDREDS of women took to the streets to raise thousands of pounds for a children’s hospice.

The annual Night to Remember in aid of the Chestnut Tree House was supported by more than 650 women who walked either four or 10 miles through Eastbourne’s streets and along its seafront.

The event, now in its sixth year, raised more than £71,000, enough to pay for 10 days care both at the hospice, based near Arundel, and in people’s homes.

Women came from far and wide to take on the challenge, including Mariska Sipers and Teuntje Brouns from the Netherlands.

Ms Supers said: “I am a teacher and I work with four, five and six year old children. I read about everything the hospice offers for children and I thought if I had a terminally ill child in my class, I think they would deserve support in the way Chestnut Tree does it.”

A group of walkers from Framfield, near Heathfield, who called themselves The Hot Lip Ladies, were also out in force to support the caused and managed to raise more than £900 in the process.

Many women were walking in memory of loved ones, including Yoda’s angels.

The team of 25, who arrived on a specially chartered bus from Brighton, walked in memory of a 15 year old girl who lost her fight with leukaemia at the end of last year.

Hospice director of children’s services, Linda Perry, said: “We are already caring for 300 children with life-shortening conditions but we know there are more families who need our help. This is why we are aiming to double the number of children we care for in the county.

“It costs well over £3 million every year to offer all of our care services, and as we reach more children this figure will increase.

“We receive less than 8% of our funding from central government so we rely on the money raised from events like the Night to Remember in order to continue to offer our care to the families who need it.

“We would like to thank everyone involved in the event, especially the women who walked and the 100 volunteers who gave up their Saturday night to help raise vital funds.

“From marshalling the route to registering the walkers and encouraging them every step of the way, this event simply wouldn’t have been possible without our army of volunteers.”

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Hospice director of children’s services, Linda Perry “We are already caring for 300 children with life-shortening conditions but we know there are more families who need our help.

“It costs well over £3 million every year to offer all of our care services, and as we reach more children this figure will increase.

“We receive less than 8% of our funding from central government so we rely on the money raised from events like the Night to Remember in order to continue to offer our care to the families who need it.”