Big Walk success with thousands raised for local charities

Forty people donned their walking shoes on Saturday 12th September, raising thousands of pounds for two local charities.

The Big Walk is the brainchild of Melksham cllr Jon Hubbard supporting two local charities – Hope for Tomorrow and Young Melksham.

Hope for Tomorrow is a Wiltshire-based charity dedicated to bringing cancer treatment closer to patients’ homes. Its mobile chemotherapy units effectively reduce the long distances of travel and waiting times for treatment that patients often endure.

Young Melksham is a local charity working with children, young people and their families in the Melksham Community Area. The trustees are all volunteers made up from across the community including some in the teaching profession and others who have different skills and talents they use to support their work.

This year people had the choice to walk one of two routes – starting from either Devizes or Bath to County Hall in Trowbridge. The mayor of Bath, cllr William Sandry waved off the Bath walkers with both groups walking around 15 miles, taking in the sights of scenic Wiltshire along the way.

When the walkers reached their final destination at around 3pm they were greeted by well-earned cakes and refreshments. A number of other money-raising activities have taken place to support the Big Walk and its two charities, including cllr Hubbard embarking on a number of practise walks on a treadmill in local supermarkets and Wiltshire Council holding a cake sale and a dress down day.

Cllr Jon Hubbard, who completed the walk himself said, “ I’d like to thank everyone for their huge support in making The Big Walk such a success. The money raised will make such a difference to both charities and I’m humbled by everyone’s efforts. The camaraderie of all the walkers was lovely to see and everyone helped each other right to the end.

“Our ambition was to make this year’s event bigger than last year and we certainly achieved it. Can we make The Big Walk even bigger and more successful next year? We’ll certainly give it a good go.”

People can still donate money by visiting www.thebigwalk.org.uk

More information about Young Melksham and Hope for Tomorrow can be found at www.youngmelksham.org.uk and www.hopefortomorrow.org.uk

The walk was supported by Wiltshire Council, Sainsbury’s, ASDA, YourWebSolution, Selwood Housing Group, Greensquare Group, The Co-operative Food and Waitrose.