The walk, supported by the Co-operative Membership, took participants 25 kilometres from Alexandra Gardens, through Eton, along the Jubilee path to Maidenhead and back along the Thames. There was also a 10 kilometre version along the Thames to Dorney Lake and back.

The funds raised will support CARE International’s poverty-fighting work overseas, including rapid response after humanitarian emergencies caused by natural disasters and conflict, to save lives and help people rebuild their homes and their livelihoods. CARE is currently responding to the food crisis in East Africa with vital water, food, sanitation, livelihood support, primary education and psychological support. So far CARE has assisted over 1.3 million people in Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya.

Participants came from as far away as West Wales, but many were residents from the Windsor area.

Windsor resident Adam Stephens took part for the second time. He said: “I walked last year because I saw the Pakistan floods on the news, and read about what CARE were doing to help. I thought it was great and wanted to help. Since then, I’ve seen CARE respond to the food crisis in East Africa with food, water and primary education for people who have lost everything. I think CARE does fantastic work and it’s great to be able to support them, especially when it’s such an enjoyable day!”

Debbie Mitchell, Co-operative and Membership Officer for the South East said: “Members of The Co-operative Group have told us that they want a business committed to tackling global poverty and we were all most proud to support the Walk All Over Poverty event at the weekend as it does just that. Each of us has the power to do something small that has the potential to create a ripple effect that is felt far and wide and it is fantastic to know that the money raised will make a real difference to the lives of people in the developing world.”

CARE will ‘walk all over poverty’ again at the same time next year. For information visit www.carechallenge.org.uk/walk.