THE organisers of this year's Keswick to Barrow Walk called it a 'fantastic community event' - and have already started planning for next year. 

£378,347 was raised this year from the 56th annual walk, also known as the K2B. 

947 people attempted the full 40-mile distance on May 13. There was also a shorter route from Coniston to Barrow, in which 1,322 hikers took part. 

There was even a marriage proposal at the finish line. 

On the walk day committee member Roy Barnes said that there were 15 per cent more entrants than the previous year, although the event was still below where it was before the pandemic. For the 2019 event, 3,200 people participated. 

More than 180 charities received awards this year and many came to the presentation evening at The Forum on Monday to collect their cheque on stage. 

The grand total raised by the event was revealed by the final recipient to receive a cheque on stage, Matthew Burden from Barrow Food Bank.

The amount of money was held up on cards by committee members and representatives from BAE, Lockheed Martin and the Navy.

The number was revealed card-by-card and Matthew was asked to play a game where he had to guess if each number moving up the total was higher or lower before it was shown. 

Matthew elicited audience participation to do this and by the time the full total was revealed many in the crowd were cheering and celebrating at the amount of money raised.

Speaking after the evening, committee member John McIntosh said: "It's enjoyable from my perspective. It is the culmination of the work we have put into the event day. Everyone on the committee plays their part."

The members are volunteers who have to put their own time into organising the event. 

Many of the members are from BAE, including chair Craig Bland, who is a director at BAE Systems Submarines. 

The first walk was in 196  but each year still throws new challenges for the members. John said that for next year this will include working for the first time with two new unitary authorities - Cumberland and Westmorland and Furness.

Previously, the organisers only had to submit applications to Cumbria County Council, which was superseded by the new council system in April this year. 

He also said that organising the walk around Thirlmere Reservoir always presents issues.

In recognition of the work he had done to facilitate the event on land owned by United Utilities before his retirement, former catchment manager Paul Phillips received a trophy on stage. 

Paul said: "For many years I've supported the Barrow walk by doing my job and making our land available for the walk, particularly Thirlmere Valley and the Swirls start-point. 

"It's challenging because of the nature of Thirlmere Valley and the weather, we've had Storm Desmond, we've had serious storms since, it's hard to get people safely through Thirlmere Valley without being on the busy A591, and we've always found a way."