Saffery Champness Rotary Walk (6 June 2015)

This year’s Saffery Champness Rotary Walk took place on 6th. June and was, again, a great success – even the weather contributed.  The sunrise over Herm, seen by all walkers on a virtually cloudless day, was spectacular. 

This year, some 509 walkers registered, some at the last moment, and 370 made it to the Finish, although this is complicated by several who started at Pleinmont or Cobo and some who were part of relay teams. Figures for the sum raised are not yet available but we believe we are on target to match our commitments. Of course donations will still be gratefully accepted.

Our thanks are due to all those who helped at the various checkpoints, all those who helped with the transport side, moving bags and equipment to the various sites, and to the members of the Organising Committee, who worked so hard to make the walk the success it was.  We were especially pleased that Inner Wheel of Guernsey took responsibility for the checkpoint at Pleinmont.  Thanks are also very much due to Race Nation, a race organizing company based in Jersey, who provided the electronic registration and tracking facilities, as well as dispatching the packs to the registered walkers.

Planning for next year’s walk will begin very soon and one of the first tasks will be to fix the date on which it will take place.  Watch this space!

The Walk is a joint venture between Rotary Club of Guernsey and Rotary Guernesias and this is eighteenth year in which it has taken place, although only the second with our sponsors Saffery Champness.  To date it has raised well over £550,000.  The Saffery Champness Rotary Walk website provides all the information needed for those wishing to walk and those who wish to support (click HERE).  Water and refreshments are provided at various places along the route and a hot breakfast is also available.  Walkers’ bags are moved on for them and will await them when they arrive at the several checkpoints.  So, walkers do not have to worry about carrying their stuff about and can concentrate on enjoying the walk!  It passes around some of the most beautiful scenery in Guernsey – sunrise at Jerbourg and the cliff paths, the golden sandy beaches and offshore rocks, the views across to France and Herm with the other islands as one comes down the east coast.  With all this, to complete the Walk is an experience in itself but to combine it with raising funds for local good causes makes it a truly worthwhile achievement.

The charities which the Walk supported this year are detailed below. In choosing these, the usual rules applied – they had to be Bailiwick-based and within a defined project. 

Guernsey Sailing Trust

Butes Play Park

Motor Neurone Disease Association

Parkinson’s UK Guernsey Branch

Shiloh Church

National Autistic Guernsey Branch

Home Start Guernsey

Guernsey Scout Association

Safer

GROW Ltd

Access-ability

Rtn David Mortimer

Chairman, Organising Committee