'After taking the day off to sleep and ending up at the Hairdressers instead (not for the walk, it just needed doing), I met Sam and we set-off off at 5pm to meet Liz, Martin and Jo at Liz’s plush apartment near Tower Bridge. We got lost and didn’t arrive ‘til 5.45pm which didn’t bode well for our navigational skills for the rest of the evening. The plan was for the five of us grab some dinner (slow-release carbs were the intention) prior to the walk. However, after quaffing two bottles of Champagne and running an email begging campaign resulting in a last minute rush of donations, it was time to get down to the Start line and register our team! Twenty miles on an empty stomach – oh dear.

Having met up with the remainder of our team at City Hall, we registered and we were issued with Next of Kin forms, and a disclaimer for Battersea Power Station. This form was of particular interest as it basically said – if you die, it’s your own fault. It was then that we started to re-evaluate the seriousness of the situation and we started to get a little bit concerned about what we’d let ourselves in for… luckily there was a food tent nearby selling pasta – excellent. And another selling wine – probably not a good idea, but it was Friday night after all.

After a couple of bowls of pasta each, it was time to admire the pinnacle of the evening… Sam’s high-heeled trainers. They drew many gasps of wonder, but not for too long, as we whisked ourselves off to the team tent where we had our team photo taken while Sam enthralled us with her gymnast limbs, managing to get a photo of The Trainers (note the capitalization) in the team-shot by hiking her leg up to extraordinary heights. Following this, we all checked our relevant items of importance. Katie’s iPod filled with songs of The Veronicas. Emma’s camera and bagful of make-up and nothing else. WE WERE READY!

We moved gingerly to the start line in time for setting off at 9pm and were rallied into a state of frenzy by the band and speakers, though mostly by ourselves to be fair. Then we started. All of us were wearing our Maggie’s bowler hats and t-shirts, the first leg of the journey was along the South Bank and around the backstreets of Southwark. And past all the pubs. On a Friday night. Much jeering and cheering ensued and before we knew it, we were at the London Eye for a complimentary flight. This involved much frustration on my part, as my beloved camera failed to take pictures using the one and only setting I have it on permanently, but luckily Katie stepped in as my technician and turned the flash on.

Following our flight, we took a walk across the river to the Channel 4 building for muffins and juice and a view of an amazing structure of the number four formed of brollies from donated by TfL’s lost property. Weird but good. Oh and Katie found a beefy Maggie’s helper to swoon over.

We then went onto the Royal Geographical Society in Kensington for a quick pit-stop before meeting Terry Burt, 2e2’s CEO, who was waiting for us at midnight on High Street Ken with a car boot full of Bollinger and a buffet for our tired legs and hungry tummies! Luckily the police failed to notice the man in a sidestreet with 12 people peering into his car boot of wonders, or this story could have been a whole lot longer.

After our team photo being hijacked by a cabbie (well, it must be a lonely job I guess), we set off for the next leg to the Maggie’s Centre in Fulham then on to Fulham Palace. By this time the team were significantly more subdued than when we started, but our spirits were quickly lifted by the arrival of Maxine Clifford (2e2’s UK Operations Director) with another car boot-full of Champagne and sweeties. This time we did attract the attention of the police, who circled us a few times before deciding we’d probably be more trouble than we’re worth and left us alone.

After a quick make-up touch-up (you never know who you might meet!), we embarked on the longest stretch of the walk, which took us onto Battersea Power Station – on arrival at which we all flopped out on the grass – the bowler hats were now decidedly absent apart from Jo who managed to hold onto hers ‘til the finish. Sam and Katie took much coercing at this point not to jack it all in and go home, but we managed to restrain them!

Now onto Horse Guards along Whitehall, but no time for stopping – the adrenalin had finally kicked in and we were going for it! On arrival at the Institute of Engineering and Technology on Savoy Place  there were two options – carry on, or pop into the building for a Champagne stop. I won’t teach my granny to suck eggs - you all know which option we took.

Interestingly though, we had the option to take the lift or the stairs to the fourth floor. Incomprehensibly, some of us opted for the stairs!! Duh! On arrival at the fourth floor, we were no longer interested in views of London from the balcony. It was all about getting a seat. And the Champagne, of course. Time for a team photo, which involved those sitting on the floor shuffling on their bottoms to the feet of those on chairs and mustering a smile for the camera. That was tough.

So, having exited the building, we were now on our last leg of the journey – along the Embankment, onto the Tower of London, across Tower Bridge and to the finish line. Sounds simple hey?! This last leg was pretty high up there in the worst experiences of my life. In fact, I think I felt better when I broke my leg in two places. We got to the 19-mile marker. Phew not long – this was really taking its toll on all of us now. No talking, no smiling, no cheery banter. This was horrific, but just one mile to go. We’ve since decided that some evil-doer moved the 19-mile marker forward as a cruel attempt of reverse psychology - that was not one mile!

We eventually passed the finish-line at 06.45 – how proud of ourselves were we, but where were Ann and Linda?! We had to complete the walk as a team! Martin was now pacing up and down – I think he was too scared to stop walking actually in case his old bones seized up, while everyone else tucked into their much-welcomed bacon sarnies. Cue a quick phone call to prevent Martin jumping in the nearest cab before they arrived, and Ann and Linda were soon on the horizon. We did it!! The whole team completed it! The weekend reported no blisters, although Sam convinced herself she needed a double hip replacement but has luckily since recovered.

Now, what’s the challenge for next year?...'

Read Maggie's thank you to all the wonderful participants and volunteers, who helped make this year's event a huge success.

And check out some Night Hike blogging too - Andy says and Maggie's Online.