MORE than 260 charities and good causes were awarded cash donations to help them continue their work in the community.

It was possible thanks to the thousands of entrants who tackled the 2015 Keswick to Barrow and Coniston to Barrow walks – and the dedicated volunteers who once again made the events possible.

Representatives from the organisations gathered in The Forum to receive their share of the £311,428 generated by the annual fundraiser - staged for the 49th time earlier this year.

Back on Saturday 9 May, 1,992 people set off from Keswick and embarked on the challenging route south.

Forty miles later, 1,831 crossed the finish line at Hawcoat Park Sports Club in Barrow.

In addition, 814 people attempted the C2B (a new record for the shorter format), with only one failing to complete the 23 miles to Barrow.

Some ran, some walked – many limping by the time they arrived to rounds of applause from the huge crowds who gathered on the field.

But regardless of their speed, collectively their determination generated more than £310,000 - from which 266 good causes have benefited.

Craig Bland, project management director BAE Systems, said: "The 1,992 K2B’ers started out from Keswick at 5.30am to refreshing heavy rain, being joined later, further down the route, by 814 C2B walkers in the mixed weather which continued to improve during the day, to the point where Hawcoat Park was basking in sunshine and a packed field for the 1,831 K2B and 813 C2B finishers.

"For the record keepers among you, the first person home completed the K2B in 4hrs 12mins and 30secs - not a record but the fastest time

for many years.

"Our last walker got home at 9.45pm after 15hrs 45mins and 59secs - and was well ready to have a rest."

Roy Barnes, K2B committee member, said thoughts were already turning to the landmark 50th installment of the event in 2016.

He said: "I know the whole committee is thrilled to see the walk donations shared across such a breadth of good causes. 

"Entries for the 50th walk, on May 7, 2016, open at noon on January 18 2016 – only 12 weeks from now.

"We are expecting a high demand for places so, to avoid disappointment, don’t leave it too late."

Looking ahead to next year, Mr Bland said: "There has been lots of speculation about the 50th walk being 50-miles-long.

"Well, I can tell you that we are continuing, from a safety perspective, to look at the route and we are likely to change it, but we don’t intend to extend it to 50 miles."

There were tributes to "a great friend and former committee member", Terry Spurling, who died in July, aged 82.

The audience heard that Mr Spurling served on the committee for many years and was a leading light and driving force in many local charities, and that he would be greatly missed.

Mr Bland thanked the sponsors:

Siemens  - Sponsors of the Grasmere checkpoint

Associated British Ports, Barrow - sponsors of the Monk Coniston checkpoint.

DONG Energy – sponsors of the Dalton checkpoint.

Furness Internet – Website support

Bluepole – Event ticketing and certificates

J F Hornby – Auditing of the accounts

Willow Water   – Water at the Finish

ASDA   - Water at Machells Coppice 

Edmundsons Electrical – Fruit at the checkpoints

Borderloos - Low-cost toilets

Enterprise - Low-cost vans

North West Evening Mail – Media coverage 

Main corporate sponsors

Rolls Royce - Provided K2B finish medals

Lockheed Martin UK - Sponsors of main food point at Machells Coppice.

The Bay 96.9 FM - sponsors of the Coniston to Barrow 

BAE Systems, Submarines – Facilities, equipment, materials