Walking for Fun(ds)!

The Rotary Club of Billericay has supported the Billericay Fun Walk for many years because it helps raise money for many charities in the district through sponsorship of the walkers. Its unique benefit is a bonus pot for which the Ex-MP of our town, John Baron, successfully solicits donations from local firms amounting to thousands of pounds, each year.

What a Bonus

John Baron and his team started the Fun Walk in 2002 to commemorate the Queen’s Golden Jubilee and raised £6,000 for six charities and projects. The event became an annual one and continues to grow – the amount participants received from the bonus pot varies each year according to how much they raise, and the total in the pot, but it has varied between 100% of the money raised (i.e. for every £1000 raised the charity received a further £1,000) down to 30%. In 2024 we received an extra 30% bonus!

In fact, the amount raised by all participants in 2024 was a total of £100,953.41, including a bonus provided by the Bonus Pot Sponsors. This means that from its inception, the Fun Walk has raised over £1,636,000 for local charities and community groups.

This year, over 80 organisations and 2,500 supporters are expected to take part the Fun Walk, which offers a flexible and inclusive format, allowing supporters to complete their sponsored walk anytime and anywhere during the month. 

“We’re thrilled to see such incredible community spirit once again this year.” said John Baron, Chair of The Fun Walk Trust. “We wish every participating organisation great success in their fundraising efforts. Our Bonus Pot of over £32,000 could add an estimated 35%-40% bonus to the monies raised through sponsorship by participants – the more they raise, the bigger the bonus.”

“Hopefully the help from local businesses will allow us to receive an even larger bonus this year”.

Virtual? It’s a Real Walk!

Entering a team is a fantastic way for groups to have fun outside, whilst raising money for a good cause. Once again, the walk is a “virtual” walk so that instead of a mass walk of all participants walking together around a fixed course at Barleylands, each charity could choose their own route of 5 Kms. or more with the only requirement being that it had to be completed in September. It may be a “Virtual” walk, but it does involve a real walk over 5 kilometres, not a computer simulation.

The Intrepid Team

After the Summer and Spring Heat Waves we were hoping for a warm and sunny walk in 2025, and we chose to walk on September 10. But, as the day drew nearer we scanned the weather forecast, and were worried that rain and thunderstorms were forecast for that day, starting at 10.00 a.m. – the time we planned to set off. The Fundraising was too important to put off, so we gritted our teeth and kept to the plan, we would do the walk, weather or not, fun or not, on that day.

So, on the day, President Stephen King, President Elect Nick Street, IPP Patrick Rothon, Roger Kettle, Brian Wellman, Peter Greene, David Holroyd, Robert Gregory all met in the car park of the Duke’s Head in Little Burstead. An excellent turnout of eight intrepid walkers (and foolish heroes all? – Editor). As forecast, the rain had just started, but it was light and just a drizzle.

Walk the Walk

We took photos to record our start, put extraneous items in the cars and prepared to set off – when, wonders of wonders, the rain stopped, the Gods smiled on us and the sun even came out. In fact, it stayed dry until the end of the walk, only starting again as we finished at the Duke’s Head where we started.

Our planned route took us around Little Burstead, the same as last year, with our guide, Roger in the lead. We set off into Laindon Common, through the woods and around Burstead Golf course and Frith Wood, across Tye Common Road and through the woods beside Hatches Farm Lane to Botney Hill.

Then back up Botney Hill before crossing into the fields towards Lower Dunton Road. Unfortunately, the farmer had ploughed all the fields right across the footpath and going was tough as we tried to keep our balance despite the large clods of earth underfoot. We did OK until one of our number, missed his footing and fell down into a ditch – much to the horror (or was it amusement) of his fellow walkers (I shall try to stay anonymous – Editor).

We turned uphill towards the copse and on to Little Burstead Vicarage and then to the War Memorial for a short rest before finally walking along Broomhills through the woods and across the fields back to the Dukes Head and the end of our trip.

How far? Over six kilometres! Well done to all. Essex is a beautiful county so the views were great, despite the weather.

Recovery!

Two hours of continuous, but leisurely, walking so it was time for some refreshments - so round to the “Old Dog” pub for drinks and food while we recovered from our exertions.

What have we raised? Well, all the sponsorship is not yet in but we believe we have already raised over two thousand pounds.