THOUSANDS of pounds was handed out to worthy causes as the grand total raised in this year's Keswick to Barrow award was revealed.

Charities and participants from the Furness region gathered at The Forum 28 to either collect a trophy, a cheque of a donation, or just to simply congratulate those in attendance.

The total amount raised for all charities from the 2019 event was £379,666. This money was split between more than 350 different charities.

The accolades were awarded first with MC Hammer Team 1 winning the GSK Trophy for being the team that raised the most money at £6,955.

The award for the most money raised by a junior team (MSF award) was given to St. Bernard’s Catholic High School: K2B Kolbe. Another team from St Bernard’s called Badano 1 won the Choose Cumbria Trophy for the most money raised in the C2B by a junior team.

Butterfly hugs: C2B 1 won the Alice Pyne Memorial Trophy, the prize for the most raised by a team on the Coniston to Barrow walk. They raised £10,296.

Young Joe Elson claimed the Pierce Armstrong Trophy for the most money raised as an individual which was a whopping £10,006.

Joe said: “I did an appeal on Facebook and I got friends of the family to sponsor me.

“I did it for fun and to raise money for Butterfly Hugs.”

The evening moved on to presenting tankards with Colin Phillips being rewarded for completing his 40th walk. Then the plates which recognised those people for 20 walks were awarded to Michael Turnough, John Hall, David Frost and Phil Dale.

The final award, the Gordon Howell Memorial Trophy, went to Coniston Primary School.

Netty Beaumont, early years staff member, said: “They emailed us at the last minute to help out, and we rallied around and managed to cover the street with marshals.

“We now hope to do it every year.”

A moving speech from Jo-Ann Ellis, who established Team Jake, was followed by the official challenge to kick-start the K2B for 2020.