BOLTON Hospice's recent Midnight Memories event showed just how enjoyable sponsored walks can be.

Whether you're a serious distance walker or opt for fancy dress, there's such fun to be had from a good old sponsored stroll.

And, apart from raising money for worthy causes, they're a great way to get some exercise without even realising it,

Back in the 1970s and 80s it seemed that there were sponsored walks every week in the town, judging from the amount of articles in the Bolton Evening News photo archive.

Regulars at the Rose and Crown certainly knew how to roll out the barrel - they pushed ten 36 gallon kegs around the town in 1977 to raise money for the blind (previous page, top left).

Sixth formers from Rivington and Blackrod High School were at it in 1986 when they decided to donate proceeds from the annual Founders' Day walk to Dr Barnardos (previous page, bottom left).

A human caterpillar - led for some reason by a couple of bumble bees - had passers-by doing a double take in 1986. The startling sight was created by students on the pre-paramedical course at Bolton Metro College who walked ten miles to raise money for a Christmas party for local disabled children (below, centre).

Bolton Leos is regarded as the "baby" branch of the Lions so, appropriately enough, members decided to have a pram push in 1978 with some very large toddlers (right).

Some genuine littleuns from Susan Isaac's Nursery School put their best feet forward in 1986 to raise money for Vision Aid to buy equipment for visually impaired children (far right).

And there were more adult-sized babies at the Jolly Waggoner in 1984 when customers took to their prams for a push to help Bolton Royal Infirmary buy a mammograph.