Fun in the Sun!

The Billericay Fun Walk has had the Rotary Club of Billericay’s support 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 MP 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 2023 we received an extra 40% bonus!

In fact, the total raised by all participants in 2023 was a total of £85,102.46, including a 40% bonus provided by the Bonus Pot Sponsors. This means that from its inception, the Fun Walk has raised over £1,535,000 for local charities and community groups.

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

We scanned the weather forecast and chose to walk on September 17, at the time the only “non-raining” day for a couple of weeks.  In fact, the forecast changed, and we were in the middle of a warm sunny spell.
So, on that day, President Patrick Rothon, IPP Roger Kettle, Brian Wellman, Peter and Christabel Strong, Les Sheppard and Peter Greene met in the car park of the Duke’s Head in Little Burstead.  An excellent turnout of seven intrepid walkers.

Walk the Walk

Our planned route took us around Little Burstead, the same as last year, but in the reverse direction.  With our guides, IPP Roger, and Christabel, 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 the fields towards Lower Dunton Road, turning uphill towards the copse and on to Little Burstead Church.  Finally along Broomhills through the woods and across the fields back to the Dukes Head and the end of our route. How far? Over six kms.! Well done to all.

The woods were cool, the golf course quiet, and the fields were empty so the going was not too tough.  But Essex is a beautiful county and the views were fantastic.

Cooling Down

Two hours in the hot sun! Must be time for some refreshments - so round to the garden of the pub for drinks and food while we cooled down after our exertions. What have we raised? 

We can now report a very satisfactory conclusion to our efforts with £1985 of sponsorship collected by all our “walkers” and club members.  After adding Gift Aid (thank you Chancellor!) of about another £495 this means we will have collected approx. £2480 for our efforts.

November will see the distribution of the Bonus and we hope for hundreds of pounds more.
Thank you to everybody who sponsored us!