This year’s Saffery
Rotary Walk celebrated its 20th year
with a record breaking £85,430 donated to 28 local community projects, almost
£30,000 more than last year’s record (£57,526 in 2016).
Simon Milsted, chair
of the walk’s organising committee said last evening, “We wanted this to be a
‘special year’ and it has certainly turned out to be exactly that!”
The walk, an
initiative promoted by both Rotary Clubs on the Island, took place on 3 June,
also broke the records for the number of people taking part which was up by
some 250 as well as the widest possible inclusion of walkers from throughout
the Guernsey community.
More than 900 people
took part in the around the island challenge, including 27 relay teams.
The funds raised
were presented to the walk’s chosen charities at a special presentation evening
at Government House last night (Wednesday 20 September).
Hosted by Island
FM’s, Richard Harding, his Excellency Vice Admiral Sir Ian Corder CB, presented
cheques to the 28 local charities. Simon Milsted acknowledged a number of
individual walkers in recognition of their specific achievements.
10 year old Lance
Armstrong won the award for the youngest walker to complete the route for the
third year running and Clive Simon, at 71 years old, was presented with the
veteran walker award. Henry Henke won an award for the most individual
sponsorship raised and the Royal Court team took home the award for most money
raised by a relay team.
The Peter Walker
award for Special Achievement, named in memory of the late Lt Governor Air
Marshal Peter Walker, who was a great supporter of the Saffery Rotary Walk, was
awarded to Ruth Mahy who has now completed the walk 18 times. Ruth told the committee she hopes to complete
20 walks before she considers retiring.
Rachel Parrott,
marketing manager at Saffery Champness and a member of the Walk’s organising
committee, presented an award on behalf of the sponsor for the best “Saffery
Selfie”.
Walkers were asked
to take “selfies” as they completed the route and post their pictures on the
Saffery Rotary Walk’s Facebook and Twitter pages. The team at Saffery Champness narrowed down
the numerous posts to select Charles Bryon Vorster as the ultimate winner.
During the evening
the date for next year’s Saffery Rotary Walk was announced as Saturday 9 June
2018.
Over the walk’s 20
years it has seen 6,600 participants take part, 4,500 of those completed the 39
miles and more than £680,000 has been raised for local causes.
Mr Milsted said: “I
could not be more pleased with the outcome of the 20th Saffery Rotary Walk. It has been an honour and a privilege to
be the chair of the committee in such a momentous year. To be able to present 28 local charitable
causes with a share of £85,430 will make such a difference to so many
people.
“The Walk requires
careful management at all times and a huge amount of work goes on behind the
scenes to ensure the event runs smoothly for all walkers, volunteers,
spectators and the sponsors. I’d like to thank the army of dedicated, motivated
and inspired people who ensured that the 20th
anniversary year has been so successful and of course to Saffery Champness for
their unprecedented commitment to ensure that this major event in islander’s
calendars continues to take place.”
Local firm Saffery
Champness took over the sponsorship of the around the island walk in 2014 and
committed to support the event in 2016 for a further three years.
Lisa Vizia, a
director at Saffery Champness and member of the organising committee, said:
“Supporting local community projects is central to our approach to CSR at
Saffery Champness and we are proud to be the sponsor of one of Guernsey’s
largest annual charity fundraising events. It was great to see so many walkers
taking on the challenge this year and in so doing raise such an outstanding
amount of money which has gone to 28 local charities.”
Applications will
soon open for local charities to apply for funding for next year’s event.
Details will be issued shortly and submissions can be made by any local
registered charity which is in need of financial support for a specific project
or initiative. For further information
please email
info@srwalk.org.gg.
Please click
HERE for the full Press Release.
To follow the preparations for the 2018 Saffery Rotary Walk please click
HERE.