May 2007

Featuring over 200 walks to suit all ages and abilities and with over half the Island recognised as an area of Outstanding Natural Beauty; the overwhelming success of this years Isle of Wight Walking Festival came as no surprise to anyone.

A colourful Chinese Walking Parade was held through Newport to get the proceedings underway, whilst highlighting the benefits of taking part in carnival events for healthy lifestyles. The Island's 500 miles of well-maintained footpaths proved as ever, to be an excellent way for walkers to enjoy breath-taking scenery. Some participants travelled as far as Perth, America, and Canada to take part in the ninth annual Walking Festival.

Bravely facing up to just about every conceivable element of weather the day could throw at them, thousands of steadfast walkers battled their way across the Island on Sunday 13th May. They were all motivated by one very significant and unfaltering aspiration - to raise as much money as possible for the Earl Mountbatten Hospice by completing the 17th consecutive Walk the Wight. It is predicated that in excess of 7,000 people were involved in the popular event; including Rotarians, Sea Cadets, St John Ambulance Brigade and the many volunteers who helped to marshal the route, man the check points, hand out drinks and who were on hand to make sure everything ran as smoothly as possible.

The fitness theme continued on throughout May when over 1000 Island women and girls joined together in the grounds of Medina High School and surrounding Seaclose Park to take part in the annual Race for Life. This is the only race on the Island to raise vital money for Cancer Research UK and contrary to the rain, wind and hail of the previous weekend's Walk the Wight, Race for Life participants were treated to a day of glorious sunshine. The day illustrated just how many families across the Isle of Wight have been touched by Cancer and this alone was enough to spur everyone on in their bid to raise enough money to help find a desperately needed cure for this terrible disease.