MORE than £21,500 has been raised for Mary Stevens Hospice after hundreds of people took part in the charity’s first ever Neon Night Run.

1,200 people were out in force for the recent event at Himley Hall, where they dressed up in neon clothing, accessories and covered in fluorescent paint.

On the night of the run, participants were treated to a two-hour pre-walk party with food stalls, live music, fire eaters, aerial gymnasts and a DJ set from Simon Cowell's official look-a-like Andy Monk.

Along the route, the performances continued with more fire eaters and gymnasts, as well as the hospice’s neon dance tunnel, which blasted out 80’s dance classics throughout the run.

The response and the figure raised has stunned hospice staff and organisers. Amanda Bowen, the charity’s community engagement officer, said: “To everyone that took part, we just want to say thank you. £21,500 will enable us to be there for so many local families when they need us most, and that simply couldn’t happen with the continued generosity of our wonderful community.

“It was a special thing to be a part of and we can’t wait to do it all again next year.”

After launching the run in late-July, the promotional videos for the event quickly became viral sensations, and reached more than 330,000 people online in just under three months.

Organisations from across the Midlands showed their support for the event by recording the “I'm ready, are you?” message which became a trademark of the campaign, which encouraged the community to run, walk or dance 5k in memory of the ones they love.

The hospice also received 19 message videos back from the likes of comedienne, Doreen Tipton, West Bromwich Albion legend, Darren Moore, local fundraising hero, "Bionic Bob" Parsons, and both Stourbridge Fire Station and Stourbridge Police.

Amanda added: “We first put the event on Facebook back in July, and had broken more than 50,000 views online within the first week. At that point, we realised it could be shaping up to be something a bit special.

“What followed with the videos, the messages, the support and the incredible response from the public was just beyond anything we'd dared dream might happen, and to see more than 1,200 people come along on the night was actually quite emotional.”