DOZENS of walkers guided by Buckinghamshire Freemasons completed a gruelling 50-mile walk in order to raise funds for the Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity.

Despite facing torrential rain and strong winds on Friday, July 14, the determined participants successfully completed the challenging route, which passed through several towns in North Buckinghamshire.

The funds generated through this walk will be used to purchase a 'Cuddle Bed' for the hospice.

This special hospital-style double bed will allow partners and children to sleep beside their loved ones during their final days and hours, providing a more comfortable and intimate setting for their farewells.

One of the participants, Rosie, has a personal connection to the cause.

She said: "My dad didn’t want to leave my mum in her final weeks at the Hospice so every night he slept on the chair next to her bed, holding her hand and talking to her.

"It would have been so much nicer for them both if he could have comfortably cuddled her in her last few days."

She has been a long-standing supporter of the charity, as her mother was cared for at the hospice 14 years ago.

Rosie and a group of her friends walked 25 miles on Friday as part of the fundraising effort.

Lee Lloyd, the Fundraising Manager at the Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity, commended the walkers for their extraordinary efforts in the face of adverse weather conditions.

He expressed his gratitude to the Buckinghamshire Freemasons for organizing the event and emphasized that the funds raised would be invaluable in improving the resources available at the hospice.

To date, the walkers have raised an impressive £20,000 for the charity.

Donations can still be made through the charity's website at fnhospice.org.uk/freemasonspilgrimswalk.