They braved blisters and aching feet to step out in style for this year's Walkathon - and raised thousands of pounds for children's charities in the process. Perfect walking weather made the event even better, as more than 10,000 people joined forces in Edgbaston's Cannon Hill Park for the new BRMB Walkathon 2005. Over the years, the world's biggest community fundraising walk has collected more than £3.5 million for the Help A Local Child Charity. From the second new Lord Mayor Coun John Hood cut the starting ribbon, the walkers strutted their stuff and had raised £45,000 by the time they had completed the first 11 kilometre lap. Many went on to walk a second lap, covering 22 kilometres by lunchtime yesterday. Then the rest of the day was theirs to enjoy the Lord Mayor's Show in Cannon Hill Park. Lord Mayor Coun Hood said: "This is my first big event as Lord Mayor and it's wonderful to meet so many people. There's a tremendous atmosphere of goodwill in the park." After one lap walkers Louise Jordan, 24, and Rachel Middleton, 27, from Kingstanding, gave their hot feet a dip in the park lake. Rachel, an adminstrator, said: "We hope to have raised about £200 between us. I'm on a keep fit schedule anyway because I'm getting married in August." Workmates from SMS Heating and Plumbing Supplies in Hopwood were following their own yellow brick road by dressing up as characters from the Wizard of Oz. Dawn Halstead, 27, who used nuts and bolts from the firm for her tin man outfit, said: "We raised £350 last year and we hope to do the same this year. It's a really friendly event." Camp Hill Rugby Club was out in style on their first walkathon. Captain Rob Mobey, 17, said they were hoping to raise £500. The going even got a little tough for the Army as gunners from a Wolverhampton-based battery tackled the walk in record time, aiming to raise £1,000. But walkathon veterans Dorothy Wilson, 40, and Zarida Riaz, 33, who are both health visitors, had done it all before and felt the event had improved with age. | 
