£110,000 walk!

Photo: Words and picture by KEN BENNNETT

Beer Walk chairman Richard Taylor is pictured (front, left) holding a cash-filled pint pot, with Saddleworth Round Table members (back row, from the left) Dave Cooper, Ryan Fitton, Dave MacDougall, and Gordon Beverley. Front: Paul Meredith and club vice-chairman Michael Coulter

Beer walk chairman staggered by fund-raising result

Jubilant Saddleworth Beer Walk chairman Richard Taylor is celebrating a record-breaking success with a pint pot . . . filled with money!

Dedicated members of Saddleworth Round Table, who organised the marathon, raised a staggering £30,300 for local charities.

And it is estimated that more than 2,000 walkers who took part in the colourful trek will have collected an additional £80,000 for their own dedicated charities.

A delighted Mr Taylor, praised his team, support groups and walkers for their efforts.

He said: “It’s remarkable — despite the weather being very mixed, we had a record number of entrants this year and topped previous charity fund-raising totals.

“The success is all down to the fantastic dedication and loyalty of the beer walk organising team, volunteers and, of course, entrants themselves.”

Despite biting winds and the threat of rain, the walkers, dressed in a creative fancy dress, took part in the 11.2 mile trek which covered Greenfield, Uppermill, Dobcross, Delph and Diggle.

Themed as “The Crate Escape” to mark the D-Day landings, the event was supported by more than 100 volunteer back-up crew and thousands of locals, who turned out to swell the walkers’ funds with generous donations.

The walk was the 36th in Saddleworth Round Table’s history.

“It just goes from strength to strength,” said Mr Taylor. “It’s an absolute must on Saddleworth’s social events calendar.”

Participants drank more than 21,000 pints of beer spread over 10 stations en route as they collected money for various charities on the walk, which took approximately six hours to complete.

Mr Taylor said: “As beerwalk chairman, it was a privilege to walk the route on the day and absorb the atmosphere of people having a great day out.”

In his thanks, he highlighted the help given by Greater Manchester Police, Oldham Licensing, Street Scene, and Highways Departments, members of St John Ambulance, the Territorial Army, Saddleworth Rotary Club, Saddleworth 41 Club, Mossley Amateur Dramatics and Lees Community Association.