MORE than 1,000 people took on the 11th annual Night to Remember midnight walk to support their a hospice raising a staggering £106,147.

For the first time since the first event in 2008, men and children were also able to join in this year’s walk for St Barnabas House.

The final fundraising total was revealed shortly before the walkers set off at an earlier than usual start time of 10.30pm.

There were three different length routes for walkers, starting from Worthing Leisure Centre, including a steady seven-mile route, a half marathon distance 13.1 mile route, and a 20 mile trek as far as Shoreham and back.

The first walkers to complete the seven-mile route were Vijaya Rudraraju, Rajini Kancheti, Jayatha Ponagoti, Kavitha Katti, Daniel Twine and Jade Twine who crossed the line together in a time of just over two hours.

Natasha Heppenstall, 45, and Lenka Bryning, 38, from Worthing were the first people to finish the 13.1 mile route, completing the walk in three hours and 25 minutes.

First to complete the 20 mile route in a time of little under three hours and 40 minutes was Julie Homewood, 45.

She said: “I took part in Night to Remember back in 2015 and did the half marathon.

“I was amazed at all the stories I heard from people and all the memory stickers people had.

“This year I’ve come back and I’ve done the 20 mile.”

Many of those taking part in Night to Remember were walking in memory of a loved one, family member or friend cared for by the hospice.

Rosalind Froom, 42, from Haywards Heath took on the 13.1 mile route in memory of her father, Alan Shearing, and mother, Janet Shearing, who both lived in Small Dole and were cared for by St Barnabas House having been diagnosed with cancer.

She was joined by her son Oliver Froom, 11, daughter Emelia Froom, 13, and sister Caroline Dixon, 40, who made up the Shearing Superstars team. Between them they have raised just over £1,500.

Rosalind said: “St Barnabas House cared for both our mum and our dad at their end of life.

“The care they received was fantastic and we just wanted to be able to give something back so that other families in the area can get the same support.

“Mum wanted to go to St Barnabas because that’s where dad passed away and she couldn’t fault the care he received so she knew what she was getting. They were just fantastic.”

Kate Laker, 53 from Rustington and Della Heath, 47 from Lancing decided to do the 13.1 mile route in memory of Nina Hepworth who they became close friends with having met at the hospice.