Whitehill & Bordon gives a warm welcome to the Charity Walk for Peace

Posted: 25th May 2022

 

A total of 250 walkers gathered at the Hogmoor Inclosure in Whitehill & Bordon on Saturday to take part in the first Charity Walk for Peace to be held in the town.

Run by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Elder Association (AMEA), East Hampshire District Council (EHDC) and the Whitehill & Bordon Community Trust, the walk seeks to raise money for charity and strengthen community ties.

Held in brilliant sunshine, on Saturday 21 May, the 5k route snaked around the inclosure and out to local landmarks, including The Shed and the Whitehill & Bordon Leisure Centre.

In all 16 charities signed up to take part, bringing their own supporters to the walk and raising more money for their cause.

The event began with a few words from Damian Hinds MP, the AMEA and EHDC and finished with a curry handed out to everyone who crossed the finish line.

Julie Butler, EHDC Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Welfare and Community Integration, said: “What an amazing event! To have over 250 walkers is just fantastic and shows the event is really growing and growing.

“The venue has been a huge success and I am hoping that we have raised more money than ever this time. It would be incredible if we have raised as much as £20,000 but we shall see.”

Iftikhar Chaudhri, the Goodwill Ambassador for the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association, said: “It's been absolutely brilliant. This is the first time we have had the walk in this wonderful location and we had some fantastic weather as well.

“I want to thank everyone who has taken part, from those who have helped organise the event and made it such a success to the hundreds who have turned up to join us on this walk. It’s been a wonderful day.”

The charities that will split the funds raised this year are:

Attenborough Explorer Scout Unit (Clanfield), Deadwater Valley Trust, Age Concern Petersfield, Alton Climate Action Network, Havant & East Hants Mind, Harlequins Gymnastics, The Vokes Trust, HomeStart Hampshire, The Happy Healing Hut, Whitehill & Bordon Community Trust, Disability Challengers, Rural Refugee Network, The Kingsley Organisation, Dementia Friends Petersfield, Artscape, The Petersfield School