Participants from the charity walk. CARE © Andy Huntley Supporters challenged themselves and challenged poverty last weekend by 'walking all over poverty'. They are set to raise an impressive £30,000 for CARE's vital work.

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, with many of CARE's regular supporters and staff taking up the challenge. Teams from Timberland, Hugo Boss, Burn it Fitness and the Thames Valley Police also helped make the challenge a huge success. A special mention also goes to

Nick and Caroline Fletcher, Sarah Campbell and friends, and Claire Sullivan and friends, all of whom greatly exceeded their fundraising targets.

Supporter David Alchin was inspired to organise his own walk in Ipswich with 51 of his friends, family and colleagues from Carillion Government Services and Suffolk County Council, all in support of CARE.

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 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."

Take part next year or support us

CARE will 'walk all over poverty' again at the same time next year.

Go here for information about next year's charity walk.

If you would like to support the team who took part from CARE, visit www.justgiving.com/carestaffwalkalloverpoverty.