Walkers raise more than £100,000

Hundreds of people who took part in this year’s Bridgnorth Sponsored Walk have raised more than £100,000 for charity.

Initial estimates suggest that about £96,000 has been raised by adults taking part in the senior event, with a further £10,000 coming in from the youngsters.

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The huge total will be added to the money raised over the event’s 42-year history which has seen more than £1 million donated to charity.

The walk’s chairman, Derek Moorhouse, described the total as “fantastic” and paid tribute to those taking part.

“The first numbers coming in suggest we have raised about £105,000 which matches the amount we raised last year,” he said.

“It’s a fantastic amount which will benefit a variety of charities and it’s a tribute to everyone who took part in this year’s walk which was held in very difficult conditions.”

More than 1,000 people took part in this year’s event, which is slightly down on previous years, although yesterday’s poor weather is believed to be the reason for the slight drop in numbers.

Hundreds of people braved the unseasonably cold weather to put their best foot forward to take part in the annual walk.Although the predicted rain mercifully stayed away for the duration of the day, a biting wind and cold temperatures made it difficult for the entrants.

A total of 956 adults took part in the senior walk, with a further 100 or so youngsters joining in on the junior event.

Many of them dressed for the occasion with a selection of cavemen, fairies, a chicken and a shark all being spotted among the crowd.

Setting off at 10am from Bridgnorth Town Hall in the town’s High Street, the walkers made their way along the Ludlow Road to the village of Cleobury North before climbing up to the summit of Brown Clee.

After descending the 546m hill, the highest point in the West Midlands, the route took walkers through Ditton Priors and back to the start.

Walkers were met and congratulated by Bridgnorth mayor Brian Jones, who shook the hand of each and every person crossing the line.

They were also clapped and cheered by crowds of well-wishers who lined the High Street to welcome them back to a well-earned warm drink.

Walk chairman Derek Moorhouse paid tribute to everyone taking part and to the army of volunteers who made sure the event could go ahead. “It’s gone very well as far as we can tell,” he said. “We’ve had no official feedback on anyone suffering any injuries .

“Walking conditions were very difficult, but we were fortunate the predicted rain stayed away.

“The weather was brilliant, relatively speaking, considering what’s been predicted the past few days.

“It could have been awful, but we managed to find a gap between the rain.

“We had close to a thousand adults taking part and the first numbers coming in suggest we have raised about £105,000, which matches the amount we raised last year.

“It’s a fantastic amount which will benefit a variety of charities and it’s a tribute to everyone who took part in this year’s walk which was held in very difficult conditions.

“I’d also like to thank everyone who volunteered to make sure the event could go ahead because without them it couldn’t happen.”