How We Enjoyed Walking For Fun And Great Causes

Fun Walk means fun time and wonderful money raised for charity and good causes. Again this year we committed our club to being involved.

Patrick Rothon, in the absence of normal annual club walker Roger Kettle- holidaying somewhere exotic! - and Rev. Margaret Fowler girded their loins and took up the challenge. Our thanks to them.  And incoming president, Peter Greene resisted the challenge to actually walk the course, and  acted as a marshal for the fourth year running. Vital job, right man for it.  Thank you, Peter.

Patrick and Margaret were among the estimated 2,000 who walked the walk from many of Billericay’s charities, all raising money.

Old, young, short, tall, thin, large, on their own or pushing baby strollers. No matter. There was a course for everyone: very short for the babies and disadvantaged, three miles for the energetic and a short one mile walk for those who felt it was right for them.

Rubbish Collection!

The keen ones set the pace at the front. The majority were just out to enjoy themselves in a this community event. As usual, John Baron followed round the long course to the end, making sure everyone finished safely and collecting up rubbish discarded by walkers.  Great effort by an MP with a general election on his mind!

The sun shone, many charities had stalls on the field near the start including our friends and one of our supported charities, the Chernobyl Children’s Life Line.

The monies raised by the charities will be made known at the presentation evening in September, date to be announced, when bonus pot cheques will be awarded.

John Baron said: “This year’s walk has already been a great success with a record bonus pot of £50,000 to be distributed on top of what the 100 local charities raise courtesy of over 2,000 walkers taking part. Our thanks go to them, to the marshals, the Barleylands team and to our family of volunteers and committee members for making it all possible.

Medal Sponsors

“Our thanks also to our bonus pot sponsors which this year included Swan Housing Association, c2c Rail Ltd, Abellio Greater Anglia, Hallmark Care Homes, .... and other individuals and companies. £50,000 will help many good causes.  To Hallmark Care Homes for sponsoring the medals, Abi’s Catering Supplies Ltd and Makro for the BBQ, to Essex & Suffolk Water for their bottled water, to Gateway 97.8 for great music, the Private Ambulance Service for manning an ambulance on the day and to Jim Shrubb, our Town Crier.

A great team effort all round.”