More than 30 people joined the BAPS Charities Annual 10k Challenge in Havant on Sunday 12 April 2015.
In total, over 3,000 participants walked or ran the 10 kilometres in about 20 towns and cities across the UK. The annual event brings together people of all ages and backgrounds around the country to do something healthy and fun and to raise valuable funds for a variety of worthy causes.
The official partner for BAPS Charities this year is the British Heart Foundation, the nation’s largest independent funder of cardiovascular research. The Challenge also raised funds for Rosa, a charitable fund set up to support initiatives that benefit women and girls in the UK.
Previous national partners have included Barnardo’s, Breast Cancer Care, Diabetes UK, Age UK, KIDS, The Anthony Nolan Trust, Macmillan Cancer Support as well as the British Heart Foundation.
The annual challenge has evolved since its inception over 20 years ago. This year offered participants one of four very different physical feats to complete: the traditional 10km walk or run, a bike ride from London to Brighton or Paris, a gruelling Spartan Challenge, and for the really adventurous, a tandem skydive.
The event in Havant kicked off shortly after 2pm from from BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in the presence of Mayor of Havant Marjorie Smallcorn.
After the opening ceremony, walkers and runners moved along the route from the Mandir to the Hayling Island Billy Trail.
After completing the 10 kilometres, Anjali Patel, 16, shared, “Me and my friends really enjoyed the walk because we knew it was for a good cause and thankfully the weather was good too.”
BAPS Charities volunteer Baku Thaker added: “We’re very grateful the Mayor could join us and the weather held out. So overall, all the participants had a wonderful day doing something good for others.”
To learn more about the work of the British Heart Foundation and Rosa, please follow the respective links.
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