YOU might have been forgiven for thinking that an Eighties revival disco had spilled out onto the streets of Blackburn, given the amount of bunny ears, deeley-boppers, cowboy hats and tutus dazzling onlookers.

But the eye-catching spectacle was simply more than 400 hardy walkers stepping out to support East Lancashire Hospice’s ever-popular Raring To Glow pavement pounder, in its ninth year.

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It didn’t matter how you got around, as long as you made it to the finish, through the day-glo neon arch, at the Soccerdome on Saturday night into the early hours of yesterday.

The first five to complete the course, sisters Anne-Marie and Catherine Clegg, friends Paula Quinn and Anna Brown, and Priti Bhagat, linked together in a gesture of solidarity.

 

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Priti is part of Connect UK, which is looking to raise £20,000 for the hospice and she said: “Five of us have taken part in this and we’ve also got a sponsored sky-dive later this month and a dragon boat race in August in Preston.”

Minutes later two of the youngest finishers, Ellie Preshur, 12, and 13-year-old Elise Taylor, both from Darwen, left family members in their wake.

The Darwen Vale pair had been undertaking the course in memory of Ellie’s grandmother Catherine Brogan, who was supported by the hospice before losing her life last April.

Together with aunties Kathryn Sutton, Angela Ryder and Susan Kenny they were looking to collect £500.

Labrador Harley was able to guide owner Susan Holding, who works at Stoneacre Land Rover, around the course, as she strode forth in memory of brother-in-law Trefor Roberts and former customer Tom Dickinson.

“More people sponsored Harley to go around than me,” said Susan, whose companion was on course to raise around £400.

Each of the finishers was given a medal and special message from one of two hospice users, thanking them for their contribution, before they tucked into a well-earned sausage butty.

For 2015 two new options were trialled, a five-kilometre run or jog alternatives, setting off from the Britannia Inn, in Haslingden Old Road, or the seven-mile walk route. The walkers, joggers and runners are on track to raise more than £37,000 for the hospice.