More than 9,500 people took part in Walk the Wight this year, helping to raise an incredible £522,426 for Mountbatten Isle of Wight – with one couple even getting engaged along the route.
Supported by headline sponsors Red Funnel and the Isle of Wight Festival, this year’s fundraising total is already 18 per cent higher than at the same stage in 2025, with more donations still expected in the coming weeks.
The Schools Walk, supported by Rouse Limited, has also enjoyed record-breaking success, raising more than £53,000 so far compared to £46,000 at the same point last year.
Among those taking part were Islanders, visitors from across the UK and even walkers from Germany and the USA.
One of the most memorable moments of the day came when NHS laboratory associate practitioner Sam Cheek, 31, proposed to third-year student nurse Aleksandra Kraus, 30, during the event.
Sam chose Walk the Wight for the proposal because it was where the couple first met 3 years ago while sharing a lunch break at Carisbrooke Castle.
Sam has said:
“Walk the Wight is where we met, so I wanted to propose in exactly the same place.
“I’d been planning it since last summer – even asking Aleksandra’s parents for permission – so it was really special to finally do it on the day.”
Aleksandra has said:
“I was completely shocked – I turned around and he was on one knee and I just said, ‘What are you doing?’
“It took me a while to process it, but it was beautiful. It means so much because this is where we met, and we come back to Walk the Wight every year – it’s our thing.”
Mountbatten CEO Becky McGregor, who completed the full walk for the first time this year, praised the event’s community spirit and fundraising impact. Becky has said:
“It was a privilege to Walk the Wight with you this year – my first as CEO and the first time I have walked in full, despite many years of walking parts of it, and volunteering.
“I was blown away by the inspirational stories shared with me along the way. It was truly humbling to hear about remembrance and beating adversity, and of taking on a challenge.
“I cannot overstate how important Walk the Wight is to Mountbatten Isle of Wight as our largest fundraising event of the year.”
Walk the Wight event lead Ashleigh Gibbs said the event continues to unite and inspire those taking part.
Ashleigh has said:
“This year was no exception, and with the Schools Walk the Wight already breaking records and the Main Walk’s fundraising total being so incredible, with more money still to come in, this will be one that we remember for a long time to come!”
Walk the Wight Your Way continues this week for those unable to take part on the day itself, including participants using Mountbatten Isle of Wight’s rehabilitation gym at the John Cheverton Centre in Newport.
Walk the Wight 2027 is set to take place on Sunday 9th May 2027.
Of which about £5 actually goes to charity after paying management’s wages and bonuses…
So true, majority of charities are the same, scandalous.
Sorry, one has no words for the both of you