Walkers will once again take to the streets of Ipswich to raise money for dementia research – and this year the challenge is expanding.

Ipswich Star: Fundraisers taking on the 2017 Ipswich Defeat Dementia Walk. Picture: GARY DONNISONFundraisers taking on the 2017 Ipswich Defeat Dementia Walk. Picture: GARY DONNISON (Image: Gary Donnison Photography 2017)

The Ipswich Defeat Dementia Walk, now in its third season, will take place on Saturday, October 13 and will for the first time offer two distances.

Originally established as a single 10-mile trek, participants can now chose to complete either a half marathon (13.1 miles) or a eight-mile route.

The shorter walk is open to people as young as 16 to encourage more families to get involved.

The event has been created by a group of volunteers: Jessica Baldry, Hilary Marriott, Victoria Meadows and Rory Marriott.

The sponsored walk will start and finish at Cult Café on Ipswich Waterfront, and will take in some of the town’s best-known sights.

Having raised £22,000 and £16,000 respectively at the 2016 and 2017 events, organisers have teamed up again with their charity partner, Alzheimer’s Research UK, and have increased the entrant capacity to 300 walkers – 150 for each distance.

This year the fundraising target has been set at £26,200.

Event manager Ms Baldry said: “What started as a fundraiser for family and friends quickly escalated into a regional initiative; we are in our third year and the engagement from our home town has been tremendous, year-on-year.

“We are delighted to have Alzheimer’s Research UK on board again – last year’s fundraising total was staggering, and we have Ipswich to thank for this. We’ve upped the challenge for 2018 and we know Ipswich has got this.”

The hike will start at 12noon and representatives from Alzheimer’s Research UK will be welcoming walkers across the finish line at around 4pm.

Holly Noon, the charity’s regional fundraising officer for East Anglia, said: “We would like to thank all of those involved in organising the Ipswich Defeat Dementia Walk. Our vision is a world that is free from the fear, harm and heartbreak of dementia. This can only be achieved through the work of our fundraisers and volunteers across the country.”

To take part in the walk, email defeatdementiawalk@outlook.com for a registration form.

People can also donate to the cause online.