Registration for the World Aid Walk is now open and this year sees some changes to the route, the beneficiary charities and the organisation of this popular family event, now in its 48th year.
There is also once again the chance to do the walk on the beautiful Island of Herm, however places for the Herm walk are limited to 150.
Roger Browning, Christian Aid, of the organising committee explained the route change: “Feedback from previous years has shown that families found the stretch from Vazon to Beaucamps disheartening. The route will now miss out this section and instead take walkers through the pretty lanes from Cobo to Saumerez Park. We hope this alteration will make the World Aid Walk more enjoyable and family-friendly.”
The World Aid Walk is delighted to welcome Guernsey-based charity This Is EPIC to the list of beneficiaries. This Is EPIC is focused on implementing Village Savings and Loans schemes in communities in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo; the other four charities for which the event will raise funds are ActionAid, Christian Aid, the Eleanor Foundation and the Tumaini Fund. All of these have a strong Guernsey presence and representatives from each are on the organising committee of the World Aid Walk. Louise Smith, new committee member and co-founder of This Is EPIC, said: “There is a strong synergy between the charities, as they all look beyond Guernsey’s shores to target countries where many people live in extreme poverty. The focus of each charity is slightly different but our aims complement each other really well.”
For this years event, t-shirts will also be available for walkers to buy. “We’re thrilled to be able to add t-shirts to the walk this year to help raise extra funds for the five charities.” said Natalie Tucker, Chair of ActionAid Guernsey. “The material of the shirts is ethically sourced, which reflects the ethos of the World Aid Walk brand, and we’re really looking forward to seeing lots of people wearing them on the day of the Walk”.
Sarnia Hotels and Specsavers are confirmed as key sponsors for 2018, and the committee is also grateful to the Guernsey Overseas Aid & Development Commission for once again agreeing to match the funding raised by those participating in the 2018 event, offering up to £5,000 per participating charity. This decision reflects its recognition of how much part of island life the World Aid Walk has become since its inception in 1970 and the huge difference the funds raised by countless walkers since then has made to the lives of some of the poorest people in the world.
Dame Mary Perkins of Specsavers said: ‘The World Aid Walk is a fantastic community event for all the family and we are very pleased to be supporting it this year. We hope as many islanders as possible take part while also helping to raise much-needed funds for some great causes.”
Karel Harris, Managing Director Sarnia Hotels commented “Sarnia Hotels is delighted to be sponsoring the WAW for the second year, this year as co-sponsors with Specsavers. As well as raising much needed funds for well deserving charities, the walk gives young people the opportunity to understand more of the problems faced by so many in our world. Personally, I find it a joy to see people of all ages walking together for such a good cause.”
You can register for the 2018 World Aid Walk at www.worldaidwalk.org.gg and follow the links to register on-line.
