Walk the Wight 2012 will take place on Sunday 13th May. This will be the Walk’s twenty first year. To register and get more information visit the walkthewight website.
Walk the Wight has long been regarded as the largest annual fund raising event on the Island. Last year just under 10,000 people walked the Wight, including 2000 children from 51 Island schools.
The event is the brainchild of two local walkers, Frank Stevens and the late Bill Bradley. Whilst enjoying one of their regular walks over the downs, they decided to find some likeminded souls and walk from one end of the island to the other and raise some money for local charities at the same time.
In the early days there were no support teams or sponsors, but as the years passed the numbers participating grew from around 25 to thousands. Assistance was urgently needed, and a committee was formed within the Hospice to manage all aspects of the walk. The support services and marshalling were handled by the Rotary Club. Meanwhile, local businesses have joined the original sponsor Moreys to provide much needed behind the scenes help.
The main walk is from Bembridge to Alum Bay, a total of 26 miles, although there are 2 smaller walks built in to the main route. This year there is also a "flat walk" for those with mobility issues or pushchairs who want to be involved.
Walk the Wighters get free bus travel to the walks. Just show your walkers number to the driver when you board the bus.
The Earl Mountbatten Hospice is the only hospice on the Isle of Wight and cares for over 800 patients with life-threatening conditions every year. The hospice's aim is to provide patients with the best quality of life possible. The service is entirely free for patients and is partly funded by the PCT, but mostly from fundraising. This is achieved by donations, proceeds from charity shops, gifts in wills, a weekly lottery, and events like this.
Walk the Wight is the Hospice's biggest event and raises over 10% of the funding they need, making a huge difference for the patients under their care.
If you would like to know more then visit the official
Earl Mountbatten Hospice website