Raise Money For Good Causes On Rotary Club’s Annual Charity Walk

Published on: 6 May, 2022
Updated on: 6 May, 2022

The Rotary Club of Guildford District hosts its 30th annual charity walk on Sunday, May 15.

The event has provided many local charities throughout the years with the opportunity to raise vital funds at no cost to themselves.

Walkers taking part on a previous Rotary Club of Guildford District’s charity sponsored walk.

It’s free to enter and anyone can take part and raise money for their favourite charity or community group with all the money raised going directly to the charities and groups involved.

The walk starts at 9.45am and registration is open from 9.15am.

The Rotarians say: “Wear sensible footwear. Get your walking shoes on and we’ll see you at the finish line!

“The pandemic, the cost of living and the knock on effects of the Ukraine war have made fundraising exceptionally challenging for not-for-profit organisations and events such as this can really help.

“This is a perfect walk for all the family and a great way to spend a Sunday.”

There will be a 5k and 10k route, both starting and finishing at Guildford’s Shalford Park.

A group from the halow project on a previous walk.

The 10k route takes approximately one and a half to two hours across some beautiful Surrey countryside. Dogs are welcome and there is plenty of free parking at Shalford Park.

To make the event more inclusive for people with limited mobility, there is now a one-mile circular stroller walk, open to anyone.

Two charities who regularly participate are Headway Surrey and the halow project. They are rallying their supporters to join on the day.

The team from Headway Surrey at the 2018 walk.

Sonja Freebody, from Headway Surrey, suggested the circular stroller walk to the rotary club, and said: “We are delighted because our clients all like a short healthy walk followed by lots of social interaction at the start and finish.

“They feel they are doing their bit to support us in a way that they can manage. I do hope others will join in as well.”

The halow project’s head of fundraising and communications, Rachelle Barnett, said: ‘We are encouraging our supporters to enjoy this fantastic charity walk, alongside their four-legged friends.

“It’s great to have a local event that is suitable for all the family and we hope that it will be an excellent fundraiser for all the charities, and raise funds to boost our work supporting young people with learning disabilities.”

The Rotary club’s president, Philip Rambech, said: “We have hosted a free charity walk from Shalford Park for 30 years providing the perfect opportunity for many local charities and community groups to raise funds at no extra cost to themselves.

“Sadly due to Covid we had to cancel the event in 2020 and 2021, but we are now delighted to say it’s finally back.

“We would like to say a big thank you to OSP Architecture for supporting us once again and sponsoring our event this year.

More details about the walk, including sponsorship forms and route maps, go to www.guildforddistrictrotary.org.uk or get in touch by email to peterj.okeefe@btinternet.com