More charities to benefit from Saffery Rotary Walk

Wednesday 17 January 2018

Money raised by the 2018 Saffery Rotary Walk will make a difference to 20 local charities.

The walk's organising committee says it received 59 applications in total from a wide variety of charities which all wanted to benefit from the sponsored event, which takes place this year on Saturday 9 June.

The Saffery Rotary Walk is one of Guernsey’s largest annual charity fundraising events and the only round-island walk. This is the fifth year that sponsor Saffery Champness has supported the walk and the firm says it is committed to assisting the walk's organising committee.

Simon Milsted, chair of the committee, said: "The committee is always looking to have as big an impact on the community as possible, supporting organisations that provide important services for islanders. The success of this event is dependent on people taking part and generating sponsorship, so we’d like to encourage walkers to take advantage of our early-bird offers and get registered as soon as possible, whether you are walking the full 39 miles or a section of it as a relay team.”

Lisa Vizia, director at Saffery Champness and member of the organising committee, said: “Supporting local community projects is an important element in our approach to CSR at Saffery Champness. It was a difficult task to select 20 charities from the record number of applications we received; however we feel that our choices reflect a good cross section of community projects across the island. We hope that walkers will now be inspired to register and get fundraising for these 20 deserving local charities.”

Anyone wanting to take part in the walk can register online.

More information can be found on the walk’s Facebook page or by following @SRIslandwalk on Twitter.

All monies raised by the 2018 walk will be split between 20 charities, which will then fund a range of community projects. The 20 chosen for funding are:

• Guernsey Army Cadet Force (RGLI) – to purchase 10 SUP boards and 20 wetsuits
• Guernsey Bereavement Service LBG – to cover the initial costs of setting up a project for traumatic death support by providing workshops, conferences and bringing trainers and speakers to the island
• Guernsey Mencap LBG – providing a package of sensory equipment including lights, textures and noises
• Guernsey Mind – to fund a launch event for the 1000 Minds programme
• Guernsey Mobility Let’s Go Group (GMLG) – to purchase specialist sports equipment
• Guernsey Multiple Sclerosis Society –  to purchase two gantry hoists
• Guernsey PND Support Group – to train six new volunteers to help with increased approaches made to the charity
• Guernsey Scout Association – to take a group on a nine day summer camp in the New Forest
• Guernsey Specials Gym Group – to train two volunteers to British Gymnastics Level 1 status
• GSPCA – to purchase a new electric van
• Lungevity – to purchase two new smaller lightweight oxygen concentrators
• Men’s Shed Guernsey – to renovate two large parking sheds with Makerspace Guernsey
• Ormer FC – to purchase portable, rechargeable LED floodlights
• Schools Library Service – to fund regular visits from the Patron of Reading author for Bailiwick primary schools
• Sound Guernsey – to purchase PA equipment
• St James LBG – to help fund a timeline exhibition showing the history of St James from 1815 to present day
• Bright Beginnings Children’s Centre - providing book bags for the Great Expectations reunion groups
• Citizens Advice Guernsey - to repair and decorate the exterior of the front of the Citizens Advice Charity Shop
• Friends of DofE - to train 10 adult leader volunteers to assist the federated schools with their off island expeditions
• Guernsey Animal Aid - to refurbish the building adjacent to the main cattery and expand its capacity to 26

Main Picture: Saffery Champness managing director Nick Batiste, director Lisa Vizia, Rotary committee member Nigel Dorey and representatives from the 20 chosen charities.