Ideal walking weather brought out over 2,000 walkers and their dogs to Baddesley Clinton NT House last Thursday for the annual Lions Festive charity walk. This year net charitable donations of over £11,000 were received in aid of Sepsis UK, SoLO Life Opportunities & local causes. Whilst the Lions had carefully planned the routes weeks ago they were unable to plan for the record numbers who turned up and the exceptionally wet weather of recent weeks, which lead to somewhat muddy footpaths & tracks.
“At least the weather remained dry this year and there was no repeat of the snow and slush which almost forced the cancellation last year for the first time in 25 years”, said organiser Lion James Dawes. “It seems many families and groups have our walks on the Festive calendar every year, eager to get out from behind the TV and away from the sales and get some fresh air and exercise to walk off the excesses of Christmas. All in a very good cause.
“One of the effects of attracting so many walkers on the day is the pressure it puts on the limited car parking at Baddesley Clinton, and the knock on effect to the nearby public roads. This is something we are aware of, and will review for future events. We do hope no-one was inconvenienced too much, and generally a good spirit was observed throughout the day”
“We work closely with the National Trust at Baddesley Clinton who have allowed us to use their facilities for 26 years now, we greatly appreciate their cooperation and assistance.”
If you walked on Thursday and have any feedback, photos of your day, or would like to offer to help us organise next year’s event please get in touch now
Now is the time collect sponsorship, donations etc and pay them in using our sponsorship form or donations page
If you missed this year’s event please make a donation and then you can download a map of this year’s mini, short & medium routes or long route to use to follow the routes perhaps when they are less muddy. NB The arrows designating the routes will come down over the next few days
Santa Lion Paul Wheatley meets fundraisers from Solo & Sepsis
Here are a few images taken by our President Bob Thurtle:
First walker of the day
Before the walk the ducks need feeding
Festive garb from Shirley Lions
Looking nice and clean before their walk
Designer label headwear was much in evidence
Back from the Favelas. Kristian Bennett the recipient of our 2018 Youth Travel Bursary starting the Festive Walk
Quick – let us beat the queue for the mulled wine
Phew! Finished. See you next year
and a few from Paula at the Sepsis Trust
Organiser Lion James Dawes tells walkers where to go
And a few more from our Facebook page:
And finally from SoLO
Why not put Friday 27th December in your 2019 diary and set yourself a challenge of walking our longest walk for charity?
