World Aid Walk 2011 details announced

The World Aid Walk is set to be bigger and better than ever.

The popular island event is this year extending beyond Guernsey’s shores to the entire Bailiwick.

World Aid Walks will take place in Guernsey, Herm and Sark in 2011.

The annual walk which is now in its 41st year in Guernsey will be held on the traditional May Bank Holiday Monday, which this year falls on 2 May.

The walk in Guernsey will once again start and finish at the Markets in St Peter Port however will start at the later time of 10am.

For the first time in the event's history on the same day walks will also take place in Sark and Herm.

Chair of the World Aid Walk Bella Farrell says, “2011 is an exciting year for the World Aid Walk and I’m delighted we will be extending our reach by also having walks across the Bailiwick. Last year was our 40th anniversary and we managed to raise more than £31,000, a record in the walk’s history. I hope with the generous support of our walkers we can aim for another successful year.”

“Thanks to the generous support of our sponsor Ipes, all the money raised by walkers will go towards our six charities, raising much needed funds for the world’s poor.”

Lesley Bailey Herm World Aid Walk Co-ordinator says, “Herm is delighted to be hosting a World Aid Walk and we’re all looking forward to getting involved. As well as island residents we are also hoping that some of our visitors from the Bailiwick and some from further a field will join in.”

Sarah La Trobe-Bateman, Sark World Aid Walk Co-ordinator shares Herm’s enthusiasm for hosting a World Aid Walk. Sarah says, “We are very excited to be holding a World Aid Walk in Sark and we hoping for a large turnout from both island residents and visitors.

Over the last 40 years the event has raised more than three quarters of a million for its chosen charities. Oxfam, Save the Children, Action Aid, Christian Aid and The Tumaini Fund are all beneficiaries of the funds raised.

Hope for a Child, a Guernsey based charity which runs a savings and loan scheme in Uganda, will be a new beneficiary for the 2011 walk.

For the 11th year running fund services firm, Ipes will sponsor the walk. Ipes Guernsey’s Managing Director Michel Davy says, “We’re proud to be associated with this successful and popular annual event. As a locally founded business we feel it is important to give something back to the community and through the World Aid Walk we are also contributing to the global fight against poverty.” (from ICfeed)