A RECORD number of women and girls took to the streets to help raise thousands of pounds for charity.

The Night to Remember midnight walk for St Barnabas House Hospice in Worthing attracted more than 1,200 entries, the highest in its eight-year history.

Women set off from midnight on Saturday to do either a seven, 13 or 20 mile route through Worthing and Shoreham.

The event, which started and finished at Worthing Leisure Centre, in Shaftesbury Avenue, is expected to raise almost £162,000 for the hospice.

This will pay for St Barnabas’ hospice at home’s night service for the whole of next year, which provides care for patients in the comfort of their own homes.

Karen Taylor, from St George’s School of English, Worthing, completed the course while wearing five-inch sparkling pink stiletto heels.

She said: “I left the centre feeling totally invigorated and inspired by all the lovely ladies around me to fulfil my promise to walk the distance in my heels and get more sponsorship for St Barnabas House.”

The Argus: The participants get ready with a warm up 

Many of those taking part were honouring family and friends who have been cared for by the hospice.

These included Nikki Manchee who was walking the 20 mile route – one mile for every year that her mum, Sandie Betley, worked at St Barnabas.

Sandie was the team leader of St Barnabas’ community nurses who visited patients in their own homes.

Ms Manchee said: “The hospice was mum’s life and she always said it was her second home. She loved her work and when she was diagnosed with breast, liver and bone cancer in 2006, she only ever took five days off work as she didn’t want to let her patients down.

“Night to Remember is an inspiring, fun and exciting event. The atmosphere is brilliant.

"I had such fun on the night and knowing all these ladies are raising funds for the hospice at home service, which is so desperately needed, is really humbling and deeply emotional for me.”

In Pictures: Night to Remember Midnight Walk

St Barnabas events fundraiser Lucy Bone said: “We cannot thank everyone enough for supporting St Barnabas House through the Night to Remember midnight walk.

“No matter how you were involved whether you were a volunteer, sponsor, or if you belong to the team of over 1,200 walkers sporting their pink t-shirts on the night and fundraising for St Barnabas House. We are incredibly grateful to you all.”