*** ***
collected in the buckets
Well done to everyone concerned!
No final total yet as the sponsor money
has still got to come in.

When the day finally arrived and it started with a downpour of rain, you can imagine how people felt, was it going to be a complete washout?

The day began at 11am outside St. Teresa's school in Norris Green, Liverpool. Raining or not, over 60 walkers turned up and were really rearing to go [home that is ;)]. People were dressed in a variety of costumes including Robin Hood, Mickey Mouse, several Indians, Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy, a French Maid, a Victorian Bather and numerous others including Alice in Wonderland. See the photographs below.

The permit from the city council allowed us to collect money in sealed buckets. Several walkers carried the buckets and raised £425.74 which will be coupled up with the sponsor money to help fund the fun/counselling day. The money was collected from shops, pubs, pedestrians, passing cars and from the passengers of a bus.

A number of PITY II members turned up with cars and a minibus, for support reasons and to carry clothing, packed lunches and 188 bottles of water secured by Alan. Alan would like to thank ASDA, Sainsbury's and, last but not least, Morrisons for their very kind donation of bottled water. Most of the cars were decorated with balloons and signs which read "PITY II Children for Children".

The children and most of the adults sang throughout the walk and if anyone in Liverpool had not heard of PITY II, they certainly had now. To the dulcet tones of "We're the kids from PITY II, mighty, mighty PITY II" the walkers plodded on.

At around 1.30 pm the walkers reached St. John's Gardens where members of PITY II staged a rousing reception for everyone. People had come from Skelmersdale and Macclesfield and other out of city areas just to give the kids a cheer. Thank you.

Trees were decorated with banners and balloons and they brought along some chocolate treats. The driver of the minibus, Richard, would like to personally thank whoever gave his 2 year old grandson some chocolate - it only took him 4 hours to clean the seat in the bus!!!! ;)

Asked if their feet were sore, most of the children responded "No, but my throat is ... Ann-Mariè won't let us stop singing!"

The walk commenced its second leg and the walkers made their way to McDonald's, on East Lancashire Road, where everyone was supplied with food and drink - our thanks to McDonald's for the discount.

There are numerous stories associated with the day and if we get a chance we will try to get them online in the near future. For now, however, we will jump to the end of the walk - we just want to go to sleep, we're tired - when the walkers ended the walk to great applause.

Certificates and food were given out and our poor Chairman, John O'Hare, wanted to say a few words in praise of the walkers - he never got the chance, all he got was writers' cramp from signing all those certificates and sponsor forms.

It only remains for us to thank everyone involved - walkers, drivers, supporters, sponsors, organizers and so forth - and hope you get some pleasure from the photographs that follow. Thank you!