Scores stepped out to take part in the annual charity seven-mile Midnight Walk in Exmouth on Saturday

AMONG the 800 or more women who undertook Saturday’s Midnight Walk for Hospiscare, were 10 from Sidmouth.

Scores stepped out to take part in the annual charity seven-mile circular walk, which started and finished at Exmouth Rugby Club.

The Sidmouth group was led by Jo Milliner, 46, from Alexandria Road, Sidmouth, who had a very personal reason for taking part.

She said: “I had breast cancer two years ago and the support from Hospiscare was fantastic. This is just a way of giving something back.”

Jo also had support from her friends and they joined her for the walk, transported to Exmouth in Sid Vale Scouts mini bus, driven by her husband Bernie.

“It was a really good night, most of us will do it again,” said Jo. “Everyone who has sponsored us has been fantastic. I’d like to thank them all.”

Barbara Bainbridge from Woolbrook Park, whose friend died of leukaemia at 58, was in the group and said: “I know quite a few people who have gone into the Hospice. If it were not for the Hospice they would be in a right state.”

A general assistant at Abbeyfield, Barbara said she hadn’t done the Midnight Walk before, but had done the Race for Life.

The group wore flashing bunny ears and finished the seven-mile walk at 1.40am, being rewarded with a bacon bap.

“I would do it again, it was really good fun,” said Barbara, who suffered a few blisters but “hobbled into work the next morning and served lunch in my flashing bunny ears.”

She and Jo have raised around �200, with others in the group raising more.

Despite threatening skies, rain held off until the end of the walk, organised by Jen Waldron.

Jen said: “Everyone looked fantastic in their fancy dress and the atmosphere was superb, so the weather window was just what we needed.”

The walk was sponsored by estate agents Whitton and Laing and an army of volunteers helped out, including marshals who lined the route to keep walkers on track.

Last year’s walk raised �83,000, which supports patients and their families with such services as home visits by community nurses and day centre facilities.