A MASSIVE £61,500 has today been collected for charities in the region after more than 11,000 walkers completed the Orwell Walk.Around 900 litres of water was consumed and 100 people needed medical help because of the heat during last month's walk which takes walkers along the banks of the Orwell River and back through the county's fields.
A MASSIVE £61,500 has today been collected for charities in the region after more than 11,000 walkers completed the Orwell Walk.
Around 900 litres of water was consumed and 100 people needed medical help because of the heat during last month's walk which takes walkers along the banks of the Orwell River and back through the county's fields.
Roger Gilles, outgoing fundraising committee chairman of the Rotary Club of Ipswich East and the walk's organiser, said: “It was a great day out for all the family and it raised so much for good causes.
“We were particularly pleased that so many people came because we were up against the World Cup and very good weather.
“In fact it was so hot that about 100 people weren't able to complete the course and needed medical help.
“But nearly everyone enjoyed themselves, there were even a couple who brought along their five-month-old child, and there were different routes to suit all abilities.”
He added: “It gives people the opportunity to see parts of Suffolk that they don't normally get to see as some landowners allow people to go through their land just for the event.”
The event, which this year celebrated its 30th anniversary always raises thousands of pounds and this year Mr Gilles said the Rotary Club had decided to focus its giving on charities in the eastern region such as Papworth Hospital in Cambridgeshire, Ipswich Victims Support and the St John's Ambulance Trust - a charity which also helped out at the walk.
He said: “There are lots of great causes overseas but recently some money which might have gone to local charities hasn't made it there and so we wanted to focus our support in our region this year.”
n. Did you take part in the walk? What do you think of the amount of money raised? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN
Weblink: www.orwellwalk.org.uk
n. Keep an eye on what's going on around the county by clicking on www.eveningstar.co.uk
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