THE weather may have been miserable but there were smiles all around for SuperWalk '96.

Despite rain and bitterly cold winds, the people of East Lancashire put on brave smiles along with their walking boots and took to the streets in droves making SuperWalk a super success.

Most walked steadily around the 20-mile course, some were pulled along by energetic dogs, others were spotted running and ex-marine Eifion Salisbury 'yomped' all the way round carrying a rucksack weighing 30lb!

Alan McGarry from Mulberry Walk in Blackburn donned a jester's outfit and pushed a decorated pram with a collection bucket.

"It's more fun in fancy dress and, hopefully, I will get even more money for the appeal this way. After all, every penny helps," he said.

The 'Philips Dozen' from Philips in Blackburn were relying on moral support to keep each other going around the course. They were hoping to raise £1,000 between them.

And the Rogers family, with their friend Alyson Greenwood, were hoping to make it around without getting lost.

Also in fancy dress was Dave Short, 29, from Blackburn. He was buzzing around the course in his bumble bee outfit.

He said: "I wanted to do something that will help everyone."

More than 40 workers from East Lancs Warehouses used SuperWalk as an opportunity to celebrate the company's 25th anniversary. They were aiming for £3,000.

Former paratrooper Paul Taylor and ex-marine Eifion Salisbury, both from Oasis Health and Leisure Club in Blackburn couldn't decide how to tackle the walk.

Paul said: "We are both marching with 30lb weights on our backs. Paras call it 'tabbing' but Eifion who is an ex-marine calls it 'yomping'. So we had to agree just to call it walking for the day."

The total amount raised from SuperWalk will not be known until later this month.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.