Thanks to the continued support from two local businesses, Kier and MJ Church and new sponsors Savills, The Forever Friends Appeal’s Walk of Life event will be taking place again this year.
Carol Heneghan from MJ Church, Matthew Pegler from Savills and Danielle and Nina from Kier
The event will be raising much-needed funds for the Royal United Hospital in Bath.
The Walk of Life takes place along the Kennet & Avon Canal towpath, with three distances to choose from.
The 26.2-mile walking marathon and 16 mile walks start in Bishops Cannings near Devizes.
The 10-mile walk starts Bradford on Avon (where the 16-mile walk finishes) and joins the marathon walkers all the way to the Holburne Museum in Bath.
Jo Common, Corporate Officer, The Forever Friends Appeal said: “We’re delighted to have the continued support from MJ Church and Kier as they have sponsored the event for several years and we are very pleased to welcome Savills as our new sponsor for 2020.
“The Walk of Life is our biggest fundraising event to organise. Up to 500 people take part and that’s why having sponsors is so important so we can ensure the day is enjoyable for all of our walkers.
“As well as being our sponsors, these businesses are kindly supporting us with some of the logistics of the event and some of their staff will be volunteering on the day.
“We also look forward to seeing their own teams take part in our Walk of Life helping to raise more funds for our charity, so we really can’t thank them enough.
“We would love to see more teams sign up from our local business community and take part in our Walk of Life Team Challenge.
“This is a fun team building opportunity for colleagues, clients and suppliers to fundraise together. Places can be booked on our website.”
Luke Brady, Head of Savills Southern Residential Division and the Bath office added: “The RUH is at the heart of our community, it’s integral to each of us at various points in our lives.
“We are proud to play a part in supporting its future through our sponsorship of this year’s Walk of Life. Our team is very much looking forward to taking part in May and we encourage others to do the same.”
Paula Church, Company Secretary, MJ Church said: “We are very pleased to be joint sponsors for the Walk of Life event. Our team will be raising funds for the Dyson Cancer Centre as it’s a cause close to our hearts.
“A family member, friend, and colleague of ours was diagnosed with cancer in 2010 and passed away in 2017 and we want to continue fundraising for the cancer centre in his memory.”
David Snell, Operations Director, Kier Construction said: “We are proud to be supporting Walk of Life, a truly special event that brings together the local community to raise vital new funds for the RUH.
“This is now our sixth year of supporting the Walk of Life and many of us who were part of the construction team for the RNHRD and Brownsword Therapies Centre which is now open at the hospital will be taking part.
“It is a fantastic event that makes a real difference to the RUH and we encourage others to get involved.”
Individual and friends and family team entry is available and the event is open to anyone over the age of 10, depending on their choice of walking distance.
The Walk of Life is an ideal opportunity to celebrate life and the memories of loved ones and the charity is hoping to see another sell-out year, smashing last year’s total raised to help transform patient care at the RUH.
Last year an incredible £100,000 was raised benefitting a variety of wards and departments at the hospital.
Entry costs £25 per person and everyone who signs up will receive fundraising and training support, a 2020 Walk of Life t-shirt, refreshments along the route and a medal on completion.
Glastonbury festival founder, Michael Eavis CBE will be there to officially mark the start of the Walk of Life in Bishop Cannings, near Devizes.
For more information about the Walk of Life go to www.foreverfriendsappeal.co.uk or visit the charity’s Facebook page.
