You could spot a few of our members at the Great Southern Walk the other day, billed as a Kent community challenge supporting youth & survivors through its fundraising for the Prince of Wales Youth Club (POWYC) and domestic violence charity Rising Sun.
Not only was the walk set off by honorary member The Lord Mayor of Canterbury, Keji Moses, but the main organisers included Rotarians and POWYC Trustees Tim Brett (who originally conceived the idea, hand-picked organising committee members, and helped oversee its realisation) and Roger Hickman (who chaired project meetings and did a lot of running around in the build up to the event). Behind-the-scenes Irina Marta helped with a post-race photo frame and we helped a little with flyers, and on the day Rotarian Viv Pritchard, and his wife Pauline, helped marshal the event. Members from other local Rotary Clubs and Inner Wheel were also part of the event.
“We are absolutely delighted with the event’s enormous success, and praise goes to all members of the organising committee who had to do a lot of hard work – in particular to Roger, who chaired the committee meetings” said Tim, who added thanks to all other organisers and volunteers, and to all that came along and also to those that sponsored walkers.
There were two routes for the walk – a 15 mile walk over hilly terrain estimated to take 4-5 hours and a shorter family walk of 5 miles. Viv and Pauline were deployed to marshal the 15 mile walk and directed walkers at two potentially tricky points, at 4 miles and then 12 miles, to make sure they didn’t take a wrong turn. “We were impressed by the excellent organisation and the enthusiasm of the walkers,” said Viv after the event, adding “we were very happy to support an important fundraising initiative for a very worthy cause.”
The exact figures aren’t in but the event is thought to have raised thousands to be shared between the two excellent charities, and proved a fantastic, fun day for walkers. Well done to all involved!
You can read more about the walk here.
Picture: Rising Sun CEO, Fran Ellis, Rotarian Roger Hickman, The Lord Mayor of Canterbury, Keji Moses, High Sheriff of Kent, Jonathan Neame, and POWYC coordinator, Joey Wicks. Picture credit: The Lord Mayor of Canterbury/Great Southern Walk (with permission).
