Events
Hythe Rotary
Beaulieu Charity Walk 2011
When Hythe Rotary’s 2010/11 President, John Samuels, took up office he expressed a wish
to raise funds for education in Africa and came up with the idea of a
sponsored walk to achieve that ambition.
Having been given permission by Lord Montagu and the Hon.
Ralph Montagu to hold the event in the private woods on the Beaulieu
Estate, work got underway to organise the Hythe & Waterside Rotary
Club’s first ever Beaulieu Charity Walk on Sunday 12th June
2011.
Despite what seemed to be the wettest and windiest June day
on record, the sponsored walk was a huge success. Walkers representing
voluntary groups, charities and clubs from all over the area turned up
prepared to brave the appalling weather and set off on their choice of a 5k
or 8k walk with 75% of their sponsorship money going to their chosen
charity and 25% to Rotary charities. The awful weather seemed to bring out
the best in everyone and a great spirit of camaraderie developed.
The walkers included a high percentage of people with
special needs or disabilities, accompanied by supporters and carers, and
they were an inspiration to all around them.
Congratulations go to the Headway charity in Totton, which
provides support services for people with acquired brain injury, who put in
the largest contingent of walkers and raised a substantial amount of
sponsorship.
Mention should also go to one individual walker who
collected the most sponsorship, nominating the Families Matter charity in
Hythe.
Beaulieu donated a prize of a family ticket for entrance to
the National Motor Museum, Palace House and the entire Beaulieu attraction,
and every walker’s name was entered in a free draw. The winner was a carer
accompanying a walker with special needs.
Brian Daley, one of the Rotary Club’s organisers, said ‘In spite of the conditions, spirits
were high and everyone enjoyed the opportunity to explore the private paths
through the Beaulieu Estate Woods. In total, more than £5000 has been
pledged by the walkers to the nominated charities – including John Samuels’ project, the building and
equipping of a science block at the Sefoloko School in South Africa’.
Hythe & Waterside Rotary Club would like to express its
thanks to everyone who took part, sponsored the walkers, or helped in any
way to achieve such a terrific result.
Particular mention should go to the pupils and teachers of
Noadswood School in Dibden Purlieu who acted as marshals on the day and
afterwards walked the route to raise money themselves for the Sefoloko
project.
Noadswood pupils had also designed the poster for the
pre-event publicity.
The money raised for
Rotary itself, will also be donated to the Sefoloko project.
