MORE than 1,200 diabetes sufferers, family, friends and supporters donned their walking boots in a bid to raise £100,000 towards finding a cure for the condition.
Participants, some in fancy dress, some three-legged, embarked on the five-mile 'Walk to Cure Diabetes' around Itchen Valley Country Park in West End yesterday.
Delighted organisers from the Southampton branch of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) had already topped the half-way mark to their target on the day.
Jayne Ashley, regional development manager, said: "We've taken cash today of £28,000 and that's backed up by another £28,000 in corporate sponsorship. So we're half-way there already and there will be promises coming in over the next two months."
The crowds gathered in front of stage to see Meridian TV anchorman Fred Dinenage take a warm-up session, before he set off a horn to start the walk.
A game of human table football was the big draw of the day, but youngsters also enjoyed fairground rides, games, face-painting and a visit from fire crews from Southampton Airport.
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