VIDEO: Over 7,500 walkers and dogs, along with a number of Llamas and alpacas, turned out in support of Earl Mountbatten Hospice yesterday (Sunday) for this year’s iconic Walk the Wight.
There were spectacular scenes as participants made their way across the glorious Isle of Wight countryside, all raising funds to support the future of patient and family care both at the Newport hospice and in people’s homes across the Island. Each route was very busy on the day, with the weather helping to boost numbers by some 400 who took the opportunity to register at the last minute. Last year, 250 signed up on the day.
The longest walk (26.5 miles) was launched by Chair of Trustees Sara Weech from Bembridge at 06:00, finishing at the Needles Landmark Attraction. The first half walkers completed 12.5 miles from Bembridge to Carisbrooke, with the second half from Carisbrooke to the Needles Landmark Attraction (14 miles). The Flat Walk started from Sandown and saw a healthy procession of walkers who finished at Shide (8 miles).
Many walked the routes in fancy dress and one team from the Island’s Currys store even took to the fields and footpaths pushing along Dyson cleaners (featured photo). The Wash the Wight team of Shaun, Antony, Aaron and Andrew completed the walk and as a result Dyson are to donate 2 Dyson vacuum cleaners to the Earl Mountbatten Hospice.
There was a party atmosphere in Freshwater Bay for Schools Walk the Wight, which celebrated its tenth birthday with a number of special guests including Minions and princesses. Each pre-registered child received a party bag at the Alum Bay finish line. With over 30 primary schools taking part, the walk proved particularly popular and saw 1,500 entrants – 3 times the number taking part in the previous year.
Among the notable results was the fastest runner, Dean Rayner who ran the course in a magnificent 4 hours and 7 minutes.
Other results included:
• First finishers Bembridge to Carisbrooke: Tom Forster and Peter Sexton who crossed the line at 07:55
• First finisher Schools Walk the Wight: Ella Edwards from Newport Church of England Primary
• First finishers Flat Walk: Stephen Holmes and Patricia and Merlot the dog at 09:58
• First runner across the line at the Needles: Dean Rayner in 4 hours and 7 minutes
• First dog finishing at Carisbooke: Mulberry at 09:27
• First dog finishing at the Needles: Maera at approx. 10:40
• Oldest finisher, Bembridge to Needles: John White, 85
• Largest team: Hoverwalkers from Hovertravel, walking in memory of former colleague Captain Graham Snow
The ambitious fundraising target for Walk the Wight 2016 is £300,000 and Earl Mountbatten Hospice is appealing for participants to gather in their sponsorship money as soon as possible. So far, over £100,000 has been raised through the sale of sponsorship packs and through the JustGiving.com site. It is hoped that the remaining funds to be collected will help the hospice reach this year’s fundraising target.
Jax Jones, Major Events Fundraiser and Walk the Wight 2016 organiser, said:
“We know that everyone has gone to extraordinary efforts to support this year’s event and it’s now time to turn our attention to gathering in the sponsorship that our walkers have worked so hard to raise. It really helps our work at the hospice if this can be done as swiftly as possible, so that we can continue to plan and improve our services for patients and families.
“There are a number of ways you can ensure your hard earned fundraising gets to the right place,” Jax added. “You can hand in your sponsorship money to any of the ten Earl Mountbatten Hospice shops across the Island, or send your cash and cheques (made payable to ‘Earl Mountbatten Hospice’) directly to the Hospice. You can also make a payment by BACS transfer: Account number 1417 7811, Sort Code 54-10-34, Reference [your walker number]. In all cases, make sure you quote your Walker Number and don’t forget to hand in your sponsorship form so the Hospice can claim the appropriate Gift Aid – Last year’s Gift Aid claim for Walk the Wight boosted the total raised by over £50,000!”
Nigel Hartley, Chief Executive at Earl Mountbatten Hospice, said:
“This was my second year taking part and, once again, I have been astounded at the extraordinary energy from everyone involved. It was wonderful to witness the determined march of thousands of walkers winding their way across our glorious countryside; all with so many different reasons for taking part, yet all making one concerted effort to raise money as much as possible, so that the hospice can continue to serve our local community.
“This event is vital in helping us to raise some £300,000 of the £7million we need to support future patient and family care, both at the Newport hospice and in people’s homes across the Isle of Wight. Without everyone’s dedication to this cause, such an incredible event could not take place. Therefore, on the behalf of all our patients and their families, I would like to offer all our walkers, sponsors and event staff and volunteers my heartfelt thanks and deep appreciation for making this event the huge success that it is”.
Thanks to the incredible support of a number of photographers who volunteered their professional skills, there are a very large number of images available to view on the Earl Mountbatten Hospice Facebook page – www.facebook.com/EarlMountbattenHospice.
Featured photo: @WashtheWight/Twitter
