Families urged to join Saffery Rotary Walk

FAMILIES are being encouraged to sign up for this year’s Saffery Rotary Walk – but they are not expected to attempt the full 39-mile route.

For the first time family groups are being invited to take part in this year’s Saffery Rotary Walk, which is on Saturday 5 June. Families are not expected to attempt the full 39-mile route and can join the round-island walk from noon at Chouet car park or from Bordeaux at either noon or 2pm. Pictured is Simon Milsted from the organising committee. (29520496)

Instead, the organisers would like to see groups of up to eight starting out from either Chouet or Bordeaux and joining the rest of the walkers at either noon or 2pm respectively to walk the nine or three-and-a-half miles to the finish along the coast.

Organising committee chairman Simon Milsted said the idea was to build on the enjoyment people found in exercising after the two lockdowns and with no guests from the UK likely to join islanders for the walk this year, the organisers came up with the notion of Families Walking Together.

‘We all know the round-island walk is hugely successful and a great community event,’ said Mr Milsted.

‘We continually strive to make it inclusive so it’s not seen as an elite thing.’

With people being inspired following lockdown it was thought to be a good time to build on the success of the relay teams, which were brought in a couple of years ago.

Family parties must be between two and eight people and include at least one adult, he said, and all participants would get a cap to commemorate the event as well as a medal once they reached the finish line in Town.

Families Walking Together logo (29520161)

There are 125 family group slots available and Mr Milstead urged families to sign up online as soon as possible to be sure of a place, although it should still be possible to register on the day.

There is a registration fee of £40 for a family of up to four, plus £5 for each additional walker, and all the money raised from the fees goes to the 22 charities which are set to benefit from the walk.

Mr Milsted said this would not be possible were it not for the support of walk sponsor Saffery Champness.

Walkers are encouraged to raise additional sponsorship, which can be done through the Race Nation donation and fundraising pages or by using a sponsorship form downloaded from the website.

So far 700 people have signed up for this year’s walk and there are 26 relay teams, under which participants complete one of seven legs.

. The Saffery Rotary Walk is on Saturday 5 June. To register, go to www.safferyrotarywalk.org.gg.