MORE than 2,000 hardy souls took part in the 40-mile endurance walk between Keswick and Barrow at the weekend to raise thousands of pounds for charities.

Despite torrential rain and bitter winds at some points on the trans-Lakeland course, the sun came out later in the day to the relief of those running, limping and strolling over the finish line.

Organisers said 2,388 took part in the 48th event with 2,157 of these completing the full 40-miler.

Among them were 1,356 men and 893 women, joined by 80 boys under the age of 17 and 60 girls.

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The average walker takes between eight and 12 hours to complete the event, although on Saturday, the last person crossed the line nearly 16 hours after starting.

One participant completed it despite breaking a metatarsal halfway through the long trek.

The event started at Rough How Bridge, three miles south of Keswick, and headed past Helvellyn and over Dunmail Raise before continuing down through Grasmere and Elterwater.

The most challenging section is said to be the long ascent up Kirkby Moor to the highest point of the route, finishing at Hawcoat Park Sports Club at Barrow-in-Furness.

The event is organised by the Keswick to Barrow Walk Com-mittee, whose President is John Hudson, managing director of BAE Systems Maritime. In the shorter 23-mile Coniston-to-Barrow route, 764 finished.

Among the teams taking part were staff from the Cox Motor Group, which has a branch off Appleby Road in Kendal.

Its six member team was raising money for the North West Air Ambulance and completed the full route in 11hrs 49m, hoping to raise as much as £5,000 for the medical charity.