9:33am Monday 6th August 2012
By Mike Laycock
ABOUT 700 people walked through the grounds of Castle Howard to raise as much as £36,000 for a cancer nurse charity – undeterred by a thunderstorm just before they set off.
The walkers were taking part on Saturday evening in Walk Ten, a unique ten kilometre “sunset” walk around the stately home near Malton , which was also intended to raise awareness of Marie Curie Nurses’ dedicated care for terminally-ill patients.
At the end of their trek the walkers were greeted by a spectacular silent fireworks display and then listened to music by Malton band Ten Car Pile-Up.
Kyla Collins, one of the organisers, said she had been worried when a thunderstorm arrived an hour before the walkers were due to set off, but the rain eased off and the sun shone during part of the walk.
She said the route was changed slightly to avoid a muddy hill which might have been treacherous after the rain. She said more than 60 people turned up to regiser on the night, bringing the total number of registered walkers to 730, and she hoped they would raise a total of £36,000, compared with £27,000 at last year’s first sunset walk.
She said the fireworks were silent to avoid upsetting local livestock and walkers’ dogs, and deliberately timed for 10pm, the time when Marie Curie nurses started their night shift.
She said: “Each night at 10pm, Marie Curie Nurses across the country arrive at the homes of the terminally-ill patients to provide professional care through the night,” she said.
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