WHEN close friends Julie Thompson and Vicky Furbur took part in the Midnight to Sunrise Walk, they were spurred on remembering two relatives who had passed away.

Julie's dad, Alan Carter, died 10 years ago after being diagnosed with cancer while Vicky's nan, Florence May, died when she was 79.

Both were looked after in the final stages of their lives by staff at the Douglas Macmillan Hospice. Julie and Vicky decided to take part in the 10-mile walk to remember their loved ones – and to say thank you to the hospice which has helped thousands of others like them.

Article continues below

Pictures from the Midnight to Sunrise walk Enlarge pictures

Julie, aged 35, who lives in Longton, said: "Dad was diagnosed with cancer and it spread to his liver and kidneys. It all happened so quickly.

"The nurses from the hospice were brilliant to him and made everything as comfortably as they possibly could.

"You don't realise how much they actually do until you have first hand experience of it."

Vicky, a 31-year-old nursery nurse from Longton, said: "Nan spent a week at the hospice in Blurton and she was in hospital before that.

"She had cancer and it had spread everywhere.

"The nurses at the hospice couldn't do enough for us and our family, they were brilliant.

"I did the walk last year and that was really good. The turnout has been fantastic this year, too.

"A lot of the people taking part are walking in memory of someone close to them so it is quite an emotional night."

Julie and Vicky's stories were echoed among the 1,500 woman who took part in the annual 10-mile walk, which started at the Britannia Stadium at midnight on Friday.

Walkers passed through Trentham, Longton, Fenton, Leek Road, and Heron Cross before circling back to the Brit.

Marie Underwood walked in memory of her dad, Ray Gerrity, who died when she was a teenager, and her uncle Brian Shutt who passed away in April.

She was joined on the walk by her two daughters Sophie, aged 15 and Jodie, aged 12.

Marie, aged 47, of Bradeley, said: "I was only 13 at the time but I remember the whole thing like it was yesterday.

"My dad went to the hospice and he died on the same day.

"The hospice was very good to my mother and gave her a lot of support after my dad died. This is the first time I've done the walk and I decided to do it because I wanted to give something back."

Jill Probyn and Kate Marshall walked in memory of their sister, Deb Harrison, who died from cervical cancer.

Jill, aged 47, who lives in Rough Close, near Lightwood, said: "Deb had three boys and the hospice let them sleep over with her so they could all be together. The support they gave her was incredible."

Zoë Hollingsworth, senior fund-raising development manager for the hospice, was delighted with the turnout for the event, which is now in its third year.

She said: "A lot of people who took part were walking in honour of someone close to them who has passed away which was really nice to see.

"A special thank you must go to the event sponsors, Stoke City FC, Connexions and Wardle Transport and also all of the volunteers who gave up their time to marshal the event and make sure everything ran smoothly."

The event is expected to have raised about £200,000 for the Blurton-based hospice.