FOOTSORE walkers are expected to have raised a record-breaking £120,000 in the 43rd Bridgnorth Journal Sponsored Walk on Monday.
More than 1,000 people completed the 22-mile walk from the High Street to the Brown Clee summit and back on Spring Bank Holiday Monday – the most ever recorded – and winner Andy Rawlings set his own unique record, leading the walkers home for the 12th successive year.
The seniors were sponsored for more than £106,000 and the 225 juniors, who all finished the walk, look to have raised close to £13,000, which is easily their highest ever total.
Walk committee chairman Derek Moorhouse said: “The weather was good enough to bring out a large number of spectators, which was nice because conditions have been poor for the last four years, and we would like to thank them for supporting the walkers.”
“The numbers completing the walk was highly successful, both in the junior and the senior sections, but now the work is centred on converting all the pledges in to hard cash. We would ask all walkers and team leaders to begin that task immediately – it could well end up a record year.”
Mr Moorhouse praised the work of the marshalls, Ditton Priors Village Hall committee, the Bridgnorth schools, the leisure centre and the walk committee, which consisted of June Cowell, Barbara Atkinson, Louise Braybrooke – who also entered the walk – Phil Rutter, entries organisers Peter Davison, Owen Fisher and Roger Seedhouse.
“The mayoral party were also outstanding and appreciated, as were the High Street crowds who remained for most of the afternoon to cheer the walkers home,” he added.
The walk saw a new lady’s winner in Jackie Garratt, but the men’s walk was again convincingly won by Andy Rawlings, who powered home in a time of three hours and 28 minutes.
Bridgnorth Mayor Mac Griffiths, who started the walk, said: “The weather was on the side of the walkers and the organisers can only be described as first class – it was absolutely wonderful.”
The Red Cross reported a few minor injuries along the way, mainly blisters, although a few walkers were caught out because of the heat and suffered from exhaustion.
The walk committee have said they will address all the issues that have been brought to their attention, which includes putting up portable toilets along the route, and hope to have some solutions in place for next year’s walk.
