Round-island walk back after 2020 cancellation

In recognition of the challenges islanders have faced this year, which led to the 2020 walk being cancelled, next year’s edition will be known as the Saffery Rotary Walk 2020-2021.

Early-bird registration for the event’s return will open on Monday.

Walkers who would like to take part in the 39-mile event on Saturday 5 June can take advantage of the early-bird registration offer.

Individual walkers who register by 31 January will pay a discounted price of £20, after which the regular registration fee will be £25.

As in previous years, walkers also have the option of taking part as a relay team, so they can complete the walk with family, friends or colleagues, with a maximum of seven people allowed in each team.

The early-bird price of £105 for team registration will be available until 31 January, after which the regular team registration fee will be £140.

Since the decision was made to cancel the 2020 walk due to the coronavirus pandemic, organisers have been looking ahead and are excited to bring the well-loved event to the island’s coast once again.

Organising committee chairman Simon Milsted said a number of innovations were planned to celebrate the walk’s return to the island calendar.

‘Taking the decision to cancel the 2020 walk was very difficult, and disappointing for all those involved from our volunteers and sponsors to the benefitting charities and the walkers who had planned to take part.

‘We hope that if there is one thing we can take forward with us into the new year, it is hat we continue to foster the fantastic community Guernsey Together” spirit that our islands have shown throughout the pandemic.’

The committee was grateful to all those who have helped keep the spirit of the walk alive in a year when it could not go ahead.

‘We therefore intend to make the 2020-2021 walk an event celebrating our supporters and the island’s resilience and fortitude,’ Mr Milsted said.

Supporting more than 20 local charities each year, the walk is a mainstay of the Guernsey charity fundraising calendar.

Despite the walk’s cancellation due to the pandemic, 10 of the 22 charities chosen as beneficiaries of the 2020 walk have still received funds.

Some £17,500 was raised from the generosity of registered walkers who offered to leave their entry fee with the walk’s committee, corporate sponsor Saffery Champness, which has honoured its commitment to the walk, and additional donations including a substantial donation from travel organisation Abta.

The remaining 12 charities will receive funding from the 2020-2021 walk in June.

Lisa Vizia, director at Saffery Champness, and member of the organising committee, said: ‘The generosity of the Saffery Rotary Walk community has been outstanding and has meant that 10 of the 22 charities have been able to receive funding already.

‘This year has undoubtedly been a challenging time for charities, especially for those who rely on fundraising events like the walk.

‘We’re excited to bring it back next year to really give our benefitting charities a boost. We encourage anyone who is interested in taking part to sign-up, whether that be as an individual or as a group or relay team made up of family, friends or colleagues.’

n For more information and to register visit www.safferyrotarywalk.org.gg or for enquiries email info@safferyrotarywalk.org.gg.