Phoenix FM presenters on the 2020 Fun Walk
Given the success of last year’s virtual fun walk and the continuing pandemic, the Event Coordinators have announced that the 2021 Fun Walk will again be a virtual event running through September.
Last year’s event had 86 local charities and good causes register with an estimated 1,400 people taking part and raised over £103,000. Participants raised sponsorship money for their individual causes and a Bonus pot from local businesses helped to increase the total raised.
John Baron MP and his team started The Fun Walk to commemorate the Queen’s Golden Jubilee, and the event has raised more than £1.2 Million for charity since 2002.
John said:
“We know the importance of the event to local charities and saw the impact that the event had helping charities engage with their supporters and raise funds to continue to provide services through the pandemic. We thank Swan Housing Association, Anisha Grange Care Home, IFE Global Logistics, Leonardo MW, Butyl Products Group, McDonald’s Restaurants Basildon and others for their generous contribution to the bonus pot and look forward to another great event in 2021”
Local organisations are encouraged to register at www.thefunwalktrust.co.uk
Did you know …
John Baron MP and his team started The Fun Walk in 2002 to commemorate the Queen’s Golden Jubilee and raised £6,000 for six charities and projects. The event became an annual one and continues to grow – in 2020, raising £103,000 for local Charities and good causes. This brings the total raised to £1,272,000 since The Fun Walk’s inception.
To assist with its growth, in 2013 the Fun Walk became a registered Charity and it is now officially known as The Fun Walk Trust (Registered Charity number: 1151626), and in 2019 Basildon Billericay and Wickford CVS were appointed to administer the event on behalf of the Trustees.
John continues his role with the charity as Chair of the Trustees and by soliciting support and sponsorship from local businesses. The BONUS POT is a unique feature of the event, into which local businesses and individuals kindly donate and which is then distributed to participating organisations on a pro rata basis and in addition to the monies they themselves raise in sponsorship. In 2020, it added 30% to the amount raised by participants.
The Fun Walk Trust organises the walk and takes care of the paperwork, leaving the projects free to focus on raising sponsorship money and enjoy the event. The event is not confined to charities, any good cause or project may join us once approved by the Trust. For example, many pre-schools and schools, churches and community groups now regularly participate.
In 2020, given the challenges presented by COVID-19 and the recognition that our local charities and good causes needed our help more than ever, the decision was made to hold a virtual event in September, allowing supporters able to walk the distance anytime during the month. This proved to be very successful and so will be repeated for 2021.
