About 200 charity walkers criss-crossed over the bridges of London on Sunday to raise thousands of pounds for Garden House Hospice Care.

The fundraisers were blessed with sunshine and blue skies as they took part in the annual Garden House event, passing sights such as Tower Bridge, Big Ben and the London Eye.

And though the final sum raised hasn’t yet been totted up, the Letchworth hospice – which serves all of North Herts and Stevenage – is hoping the event may have brought in up to £20,000.

One of the walkers was Valerie Calcasola from Letchworth, who walked as part of a team also including Karen Defraine, Julie Taylor, Teresa Pooley and Janine Fox.

Valerie said: “This is my third time attending the Bridges of London walk. It is a thoroughly enjoyable day out, seeing the sights of London while raising funds for the hospice. We have always finish in a good time so we can treat ourselves to a glass of bubbly to celebrate.

“This year we received a £10 donation from a passing jogger. He had noticed we were all wearing our Garden House T-shirts and stopped. We were really touched.

“We have taken our sponsorship form in to work as well, so hopefully can raise even more for this worthy cause.”

Thirteen-year-old Charlotte Joyce, who walked with her mum Sam, said: “My mum and I really enjoyed the Bridges of London walk. My grandad had to go into the hospice, where the care he got was fantastic right to the end – but the support the family received afterwards really helped us though a very sad time.

“The money we raise is a way of giving back the support that was given to us, and allows the hospice to provide this to other families.”

Garden House Hospice Care needs to raise £3.2 million each year to run its services.

Cathy White from the hospice said: “This walk is a great example of an event the whole family can enjoy, and the sponsorship it raises enables us to continue to provide our specialist care to patients and their families. We simply could not do it without the great support we receive from the community, so thank you to everyone who took part and supported this years event.”

To find out more about the hospice, call 01462 479540 or have a look at ghhospicecare.org.uk.