Sleepwalk raises cash for hospice

A PYJAMA party in Grimsby helped raise about £50,000 for St Andrew's Hospice, as hundreds of women took part in a midnight sleepwalk.

As many as 540 women marched through North East Lincolnshire in the early hours of Saturday, dressed in their nightwear, with the goal of raising money for Grimsby's hospice.

It was the second St Andrew's Hospice Sleepwalk, after last year's inaugural event raised more than £50,000.

The female fundraisers met at Freshney Place shopping centre for some pre-event entertainment from Merlin's Keep and Sambalada, as well as a warm-up aerobics session with Will Pool.

At midnight, they set off towards Freeman Street, before walking along Grimsby Road, Cleethorpes Promenade, through Humberston, Laceby Road, Chelmsford Avenue, Littlefield Lane and back to Freshney Place.

The first woman back arrived at 2.27am, with the final female crossing the line at about 5am.

Hospice fundraiser Angela Greenfield said: "Once again, we have had a fantastic turnout and a really good evening. We believe we have raised between £45,000 and £50,000, which is great.

"That kind of money really is invaluable to the hospice, as we rely almost 100 per cent on donations."

The sleepwalk takes place at various hospices across the country.

After crossing the finishing line, the weary women were greeted with bacon sandwiches, tea, coffee and bucks fizz.

Maureen King, 49, of David Street, Grimsby, completed the sleepwalk at 3.15am.

She was doing it with a group called the Monday Club Ladies and Microlights, which included her sister, Lesley Toyne, 50, of Laceby.

The walk had extra significance for the duo as their father, Andrew King, died at the hospice in 2004, aged 73.

Maureen said: "Because of what happened with my dad, the hospice is particularly close to my heart.

"The group of us did it together, all raising money separately and I raised about £100.

"It went very well. I felt a bit dizzy at the end, but it was worth it."

Lesley said: "We were thinking of Dad as we walked around."

Friends Lisa Stafford, Kim Mooton, Jo Ruddick, Caroline Hickman and Diana Hodson dressed in identical pyjamas and raised money together.

Lisa, a health trainer, was the first to finish. She said: "The event went really well, and I beat my time from last year, which is great."

Kim, who came second, said: "It is a fun event for a worthwhile cause."