AS THE clock struck midnight more than 500 women walkers set off for a stride through the dark streets on High Wycombe on Sunday morning.

Two bunny girls led the mass walkathon which sought to raise cash for Scannappeal, South Bucks Hospice and guest charity, Kids in Sport.

£55,000 has been pledged in sponsorship, including £10,000 for Kids in Sport.

The Wycombe Wander – in its second year – began and ended at the Blues' Adams Park stadium.

The first walkers completed the 12.5 mile circuit in 2hrs 44 minutes and the final walkers arrived back at Adams Park in 5hrs and 5 minutes.

The oldest walker was Jennifer Hart, aged 79, was joined by fellow septuagenarian Gertrude Zetschock, 70. 

Nursery Nutters - a team of 14 Amersham Hospital nursery nurses - raised about £800 to be split evenly between South Bucks Hospice and Scannappeal.

One of the group, Nicky Clarke, 35, from High Wycombe, said: “It’s a really good laugh and some of us did last year and here we are again.”

Cressex Community School also entered a team.

Karen Jones, 32, a P.E teacher, of Holmers Lane, High Wycombe, said: “It feels really good to be taking part, some of the team have done the 5k race for life before. It’s great to be doing it all together, we are there to support each other.”

Two members of the school’s team have suffered from cancer.

The group raised around £600 which will go to Kids in Sport - a High Wycombe charity which has provided sports equipment for pupils.

Bunny girls - Julia Allen, 42, and Kirsty Campbell, 32,- were made lead walkers after coming in first at last year’s event.

The pair wore flashing rabbit ears and fluffy tails.

But having done other walks dressed as hula girls or devils, this was not so outrageous, they said.

Mrs Allen, a behavioural skills trainer from Stokenchurch, said: “We've done the moon walk together in London a few times and wanted to do something local.

"There’s a lot of camaraderie, sharing a common thing which is fantastic.”

Mrs Campbell, a physio at Amersham Hospital from Stokenchurch, said: “I’m very aware of scanappeal having worked for the local trust for 10 years.

“You do get a few comments during the walks, especially from the drunks last year when we were dressed as devils.”

The Desperate Housewives team included Sue Francis, 53,a doctor, of North Park, Gerrards Cross.

She was helped by South Bucks Hospice after being diagnosed with cancer two years ago.

“They are a fantastic clinic and this particular one if really underfunded,” she said.

She said the importance of the hospice would only increase with the country’s poor financial state.

“So many of these services will rely on charities with the cuts,” she said.

A joint statement from the three charities said: “We are so grateful to all the walkers who took part in the second Wycombe Wander Midnight Walk.

“The atmosphere on the night was incredible, helped along by our wonderful marshals and volunteers who encouraged the walkers every step of the way.”

Organisers thanked everyone who took part including volunteers, marshals and the back walkers – David Alder, Sue Pryor and David Coles – and hosts Wycombe Wanderers for the use of Adams Park as the start and finish point.

The walk was sponsored by The Paperchain Partnership.

Other walkers included Helen McCurdy, Day Care Services Manager, South Bucks Hospice), mother and daughter Sarah Lloyd and Denise Lloyd, who works at Wycombe Hospital in the Urology department where Scannappeal has been fundraising for the Cancer Fighting Fund, and Ann Whytewood, soon to be a Trustee of Kids in Sport.

Walkers can find photographs from the night on this Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/The-Wycombe-Wander-2010-Midnight-Walk/348616771398?ref=ts