Snapped! Caught on Camera

A special date - Monday March 21, 2022.  An email popped into past president Peter Greene’s inbox from Sandra Bastow, Trustee at the Fun Walk Trust.  It asked: – “Would the club be willing to support a photo opportunity to help launch the Platinum Jubilee Fun Walk.”

Our club has been a long-term supporter of this event, which helps raise money for charities in the district through sponsorship and from a bonus pot, for which our local MP John Baron solicits donations from local organisations, each year.  We participate in the walk and, help marshal the event when asked.  Of course we said yes!

John Baron started the Fun Walk in 2002 to commemorate the Queen’s Golden Jubilee and raised £6,000 for six charities and projects. Now an annual event it continues to grow – the amount raised in 2021 brings the total raised to £1,362,000 since the Fun Walk’s inception.

A Grand Total

£90,000 was raised last year for local charities and good causes and the Trustees hope to do even better this year.  

We raised £2420 including Gift Aid, plus a bonus of £581.  A grand total of just over £3,000.

This year’s sponsors so far include Greater Anglia, Anisha Grange Care Home, Tunnelcraft, Butyl Products, Mr Barrie Stone and others.  “Entering a team is a fantastic way for groups to have fun outside, whilst raising money for a good cause,” said a Fun Walk spokesperson.  Normally held in September; this year brought forward to June for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and renamed in her honour.

Thumbs Up

Six members supported the event on April 22, President Les Sheppard, Secretary Brian Wellman, Patrick Rothon, Roger Kettle, Mike Sinclair and Peter Greene, assembling around 11.00 am at the Billericay Sign on the green at the corner of London Road and Mountnessing Road. Weather warning was possibly wet; in fact it stayed dry with a spot of sun.

Time for the photo-shoot after a short Trustees meeting. A celebrity list of participants – the Trustees, our six members, two representatives of Anisha Grange (a sponsor of the Bonus Pot and Bonus donation ceremony hosts in previous years), Town Crier Jim Shrubb and a representative from Street Pastors.

Group photos, and then with each of the “Fun Walk” banners, in various poses. Smiles all round,  “thumbs up”, a wave to the Fun Walk’s official photographer.  Finally,  special snaps of our six with our MP and banners to recognise our support of the event. Kind gesture by John Baron MP.

Our thanks to Sandra for inviting us to take part and to John Baron MP for originating and supporting such a valuable contribution to our town.

Press Release

The Platinum Jubilee Fun Walk was launched formally with a Press Release a few Days later:

"Signs are Looking Good for June Platinum Jubilee Fun Walk"

John Baron MP, Chair of The Fun Walk Trustees, said
“We are delighted to partner with one of our long time sponsors: Anisha Grange Care Home, as well as welcome regular Fun Walk participants, Jim Shrubb (the Billericay Town Crier), Billericay Street Pastors and the Rotary Club of Billericay to help publicise the event.

We have over 50 local charities and community groups already registered and hope to see many more participate in this year’s event and benefit from the Fun Walk Bonus Pot”.

Anisha Grange Care Home has been a key Bonus Pot sponsor for many years, alongside Greater Anglia, Tunnelcraft, Butyl Products, Mr Barrie Stone and others.

Customer Relationship Manager at Anisha Grange, Rabea Azad said
“We are delighted to be sponsoring this year’s Fun Walk event again. The Fun Walk provides a great opportunity for people to have a lovely day out and easily raise funds to support meaningful charities and local causes.”

Peter Greene, Immediate Past President of the Rotary Club of Billericay, said
“We have a long history of participating in the Fun Walk, both with members walking the walk and others helping out as marshals. We have already registered for this year’s event as it is an invaluable way for us to raise money to support our many charities, both internationally: for example, the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain, Mary’s Meals, Médecins Sans Frontières and Rotary’s End Polio Now, and locally: for example, Essex Air Ambulance, Little Havens Hospice, St. Luke’s Hospice, and Barrow Farm Riding for the Disabled, and many more. Without the Fun Walk we would not be able to raise the funds needed to help these great causes.”