100 Bridge Challenge Cheque Presentations

Following the huge success of Bedford Castle Rotary Club’s innovative On Line Auction last Autumn which raised nearly £11,000 for two very deserving local charities, Schoolreaders and  the Bedford Daycare Hospice, Immediate Past President of the Club, Tony Wildman, has completed a personal challenge to raise more money for these two very deserving local charities,

Tony devised and planned his ‘100 Bridge Challenge’, a sponsored solo walk up and down  Bedford’s Embankment, crossing each of its bridges between Newnham footbridge and the County Bridge in Prebend Street until he had walked over them a total of one hundred times in a single day. Accompanied by family friends and fellow Rotarians on each of the five circuits Tony completed the 12.5 mile walk along our magnificent river in bright sunshine in mid- Summer.

Having set himself a target of £5,000 in sponsorship Tony is delighted to have raised nearly £8000 in total. Resting after his ordeal Tony commented “ Support from local people and my Rotary Club has been amazing,  I am delighted to be able to provide funds to these organisations to continue their excellent work at a time when Covid restrictions  has severely limited their fund raising opportunities “

 Last week, Tony Wildman presented a cheque for £3,900 to Jane Whitbread, Founder and Trustee of School readers and also to Tom Inskip, Chair of the Bedford Day Care Hospice, for the same amount (also pictured is Leigh Brewin Treasurer of Bedford Castle Rotary Club).