Colchester United's Weston Homes Community Stadium has helped raise well over £100,000 for St Helena Hospice, it has now been confirmed.

The award winning venue in the north of the town played host to the Hospice's Midnight Walk, which turned out to be a hugely successful event as the club and community came together.

1,500 ladies started their walk through Colchester in aid of St Helena Hospice. The ladies came along dressed in their Midnight Walk t-shirts and some even wore very creative and fun fancy dress costumes which were then finished off with a pair of flashing bunny ears.

The atmosphere on the night was amazing.

Stewards and volunteers along the route gave the walkers lots of support and encouragement and passers by even stopped to wave, clap and cheer the ladies on.

The Midnight Walk started and finished at the Weston Homes Community Stadium, the home of Colchester United and walkers followed a circular route of 12km (7.5 miles).

The route went along Severalls Lane, down Ipswich Road, along Cowdray Avenue past North Station and up Mill Road back towards the Weston Homes Community Stadium where each walker then crossed the finish line and collected their well deserved medal and goody bag.

Chris Hill, Fundraising and Marketing Director, St Helena Hospice said: "It was simply brilliant to see all the participants at the start line on Saturday 6th June and we want to thank everyone for making it a truly fun and exciting night.

"We had an incredible £144,244.46 pledged in sponsorship on the night and every penny of this will go to the Hospice to support the work we do so we really do appreciate everyone's hard work.

"I would like to say a special thank you to our event supporters: Colchester United, Hatfields of Colchester, the Colchester Gazette, Pyramid Recruitment Services Ltd, Water Direct, The Essex Golf & Country Club and Anglia Crown for all their support and enthusiasm for the Midnight Walk.

"Without it we would not have been able to put together such an incredible night for all our wonderful participants."

St Helena Hospice have posted photos and video clips of the Midnight Walk on their website so if you haven't already been online to check them out you can do so by visiting http://www.sthelenahospice.org.uk/midnightwalk/index.htm

For more information about the 2009 Midnight Walk or to put your name down to be one of the first to hear about the plans for the 2010 event, please email the Midnight Walk team at midnightwalk@sthelenahospice.org.uk