What stars you are
(Herald Express 12/7/2007)

The 800 women who paced along the streets of Dacorum on Saturday raised a record £104,000 for the Hospice of St Francis.

Organisers of Walk with the Stars - a 12-mile women's only midnight walk - set themselves the target of raising £50,000 to go towards the £85,000 needed to open a new bed at the state-of-the-art hospice in Berkhamsted
But with sponsorship money still pouring in on top of the £104,00 raised on the night, they have far surpassed their goal.

The sea of women dressed in hot-pink T-shirts set off from Hemel Hempstead Sportspace after warming up with a personal trainer.

Footballing brothers, Tommy Smith from Watford FC and Jack Smith (Swindon) and Tottenham Hotspurs' goal-keeping coach Hans Segers, gave the women a rousing send-off.
The route took them to Berkhamsted Sportspace and then back to Hemel Hempstead again.

The walkers were in good spirits and of all ages, from 12 to 74!
Even a seven-month pregnant lady at the back of the pack enjoyed the stroll.
Arrivals back in Hemel were greeted with bacon butties, tea and coffee.

One participant Liz Richards, said: "It was totally exhilarating. The adrenaline kept me going -it was truly amazing."
Director of fund-raising at the hospice Sarah Thompson, said: "I am really delighted to say that Saturday's Walk with the Stars was a huge success."

Despite sore legs and blisters, hundreds of the women have already said they want to sign up for next year's Walk With the Stars and organisers are promising that it will be even bigger.