A WAVE of pink inundated the streets of Ulverston to mark the return of a popular event held in memory of loved ones.

More than 500 walkers gathered at Ulverston Leisure Centre to take on the ten mile walk to Barrow while raising much-needed funds for the hospice.

This year’s event was particularly poignant for partakers who dedicated the walk to Her Majesty the Queen after her sad death on Thursday.

Among those taking part in the walk was members of Barrow Island Rugby team: Ben, Alfie, Harry and George who dedicated the walk to their coach, Chris Johnson who sadly died in 2018.

Mr Johnson was a major part of Barrow Island ARLFC, having played for the under seven's team until he left for university aged 18.

Denise Dawson, Paula Boyd, Karina Roberts and Andrea Kershaw from JF Hornby were also taking on the walk in memory of their loved ones.

The women raised £500 through donations for the hospice and were excited to take on the challenge.

“It’s the first time we’ve done this as a group but we’re all really excited,” they said.

“It’s also a nice way to remember the Queen as well as raise money for the hospice.”

Hospice nurses Debbie Pearce, Mandy Graham, Lucy Armstrong and Tracy Barrow praised the atmosphere and comradery at this year’s event.

“It’s brilliant to see everyone all together,” they said.

“We’re seeing family members of people we’ve looked after in the hospice so it’s lovely to see them.

“This means so much of us for fundraising. It’s our biggest fundraising event so it really is massive.”

George, Charlotte and Julia Wood also took on the event in memory of their grandad.

“It’s a nice way to remember him,” they said.

“As well as give back to the hospice.

The Walk to Remember has been running for over 12 years, and in 2017 £56,486 was raised through it. It ran for the first time again last year as lockdown restrictions relaxed.

Karl Connor, a spokesman for the hospice, said: “The turn out has been really good this year. We had to think long and hard about going ahead in light of the sad news about the Queen.

“If we were holding any other event, we would’ve cancelled, but this is a chance for people to come together and celebrates the lives of people they have lost. It felt right to do it.

“It was a universal feeling from the public that they wanted the event to still happen.”

Just 17 percent of the money the hospice needs every year comes via the NHS, with the rest having to be generated by fundraising activities - and the Walk to Remember has become one of the most popular ways for local people to get involved.