I Know We’ll Meet Again Some Sunny Day

(with apologies to Vera Lynn)

Another spectacular day for John Baron’s Billericay Fun Walk. Blue skies and sunshine helped raise thousands of pounds for charity and good causes.  This year the breeze kept the temperature down, making it easy for all the walkers.  Just perfect to enjoy a healthy walk in the lovely Essex countryside. What could be better?

Roger .. and Out

It’s that time when Billericay groups join together in the annual Fun Walk to raise money for their charities and good causes.  Almost 2,000 walkers had the choice of three courses - a short course for the disabled and very young, a medium course of about 1.5 miles, and a long course of about three miles. Old, young, short, tall, thin, large, on your own or pushing babies - there was a course for everyone.

Roger Kettle reports “We were sent off by Bert French, and, accompanied by Pat Rothon, and Sarah, Ali and Beau from my family.  My 6 year old granddaughter said she wanted to do the long route.  So off we set with hundreds other walkers, many with children and dogs but all in good humour.”

“At the start very crowded but needless to say every one found their best walking pace and we started to spread out making walking and conversation much easier.  With good company it was soon over, we all collected our medals and certificates and looked for a bite to eat. There were a variety of Charity Gazebos advertising their causes and most were fund raising.

Overall it was good fun,  well supported, a pleasant walk, although I did have to carry our 6 year old grand daughter on my shoulders for a little way. Importantly an excellent and successful John Baron initiative.”

As usual Peter Greene acted as a marshal.  An easy job? Not a bit of it - local MP John Baron followed up at the rear of the walkers to pick up rubbish and release the marshals to return to the finish.  Peter joined him round the long route as back marker to ensure all contestants safely finished, and ended up accompanying the last group of six walkers as they eventually struggled to the finish long after everybody else.

Into The Pot

Last year this initiative passed £1,000,000 raised for charity. What an achievement!
This year, due to the event’s increasing popularity, the walk was organised by Basildon, Billericay & Wickford Council for Voluntary Services (BBWCVS).  Chris Evans BBWCVS Chief Officer said: “We are so excited to be supporting this super event.  A walk in a great setting and all for local charities”.

Local businesses donate to the bonus pot that is distributed in proportion to funds raised by the walkers.

Bonus time

Before the start, John Baron was interviewed on local radio station Gateway 978 FM, thanking the participants for taking part, and saying “We are set for another wonderful event. Our thanks go to Swan Housing Group, Anisha Grange Care Home, c2c, Greater Anglia, and many others – the £35,000 they have raised will be added to the monies raised by the charities on the day.”  Then it was time to allocate the marshals and take them round the course to their stations before returning to the start to address the participants, and ... they were off.

All participating organisations must attend at Anisha Grange, Hallmark Care Homes, Billericay on 22nd November 2019 at 6.00pm, when bonus pot cheques will be awarded in a brief presentation ceremony, to each charity and good cause taking part. Bonus pot sponsors and press are invited.