Walk the Wight

A feeling of unanimous relief swept across the Island on Sunday 18th May as the early morning clouds rolled away to reveal hazy sunshine and over 10,000 people donned their walking boots in preparation to Walk the Wight.
Last year 5722 steadfast walkers fought their way through wind, rain and even hail, across slippery mud-ridden tracks and footpaths to complete the 26.5 miles ramble in aid of the Earl Mountbatten Hospice.

However, the massive increase in participants for 2008 proved that the appalling weather conditions experienced by walkers twelve months previously had done nothing to deter either them or others from taking part once more.

On the contrary, by the time initial registrations closed this year on April 30th, 8277 hardy souls had already signed up to be part of the largest community fundraising event ever to be held on the Isle of Wight. Incredibly over a thousand more turned out to register on the day.

Record breakers!

As well as the surge in people intent on being involved in Walk the Wight, as the years progress, it seems that sponsors are being more and more generous as the amount of money being donated to the hospice is on the increase. Last year a staggering £230,000 was generated for patient care as a result of this one single fundraising activity. With the mammoth amount of support shown this time around it is hoped that donations for 2008 will reach the quarter-of-a-million pound mark.

The Earl Mountbatten Hospice is the only hospice to care for 75% of all cancer patients and several other terminally ill patients on the Island and requires approximately £5000 a day to operate. For this reason large-scale events like Walk the Wight are imperative to ensure the continuity of the high level of care it provides. Sadly, the grant the hospice receives from the NHS covers only a third of what it actually costs to provide patients with the best possible standard of life during such difficult times.

2713 people registered to complete the entire walk from Bembridge to the Needles Park at Alum Bay. A further 381 opted to do the first half (12.5-miles) to Carisbrooke Castle and another 1446 choose to start from this central location and brave the 14-mile hilly second-leg. Over 2000 youngsters from 56 schools took part in the special 'Schools Walk,' 1000 of who joined the main Walk on 18th May to complete the last 4 miles from Freshwater Bay to the Needles Park.

Inventive flat walk enticed the crowds

Stretching from Sandown High School to Thompson's Trees in Shide just outside of Newport, the new 'Flat Walk' was introduced by organisers for 2008 especially for the benefit of those people who prefer to walk on the flat rather than up hills and across uneven ground. The 8-mile long flat walk followed the cycle track, previously the old railway line, most of which has since been gravelled and is suitable for rugged wheelchairs and buggies. For those who wished to walk shorter distances there were access points at Lower Knighton, Horringford and Blackwater.

The introduction of this alternative walk proved extremely popular with those keen to participate in the annual charity event but unable to tackle the terrain. 1804 people registered for the flat walk which attracted a completely new set of individuals, including the less mobile, people with disabilities, families with young children and baby buggies, the elderly and those who had undergone surgery for hip or knee replacements. For many the completion of this walk constituted a great personal achievement.

Walk the Wighters were able to travel free on any Southern Vectis bus throughout the course of the day in addition to the usual shuttle buses to the Bembridge Start and back from the Needles Park to Carisbrooke and Newport.

Stilt walkers, runners and celebrities

The oldest lady to take part in the event this year was 87 and the oldest man 86. 22 additional walkers were aged 80 or above. 990 participants were aged over 60 and there were 280 under 10's taking part in the main and flat walk.

Also striving to raise funds for the hospice were 100 teams consisting of 4 walkers or more. Team names ranged from the amusing 'Hodge and Sods' and 'Activities on Legs' to colleagues representing Island businesses such as Towrags Trike and Bike Club,' organisations such as the 'Motor Neurone Society' and 'Joint Replacement Group' plus of course the hundreds of people walking in memory of loved ones. Two teams of stilt walkers attempted the whole 26.5 miles, as did Ryde Extreme Performers. For budding athletes, Walk the Wight provided the ideal opportunity to push their stamina to the max with several choosing to run the entire distance from East to West.

It is estimated that 15% of walkers this year were from the mainland, equating to a total of 1040. Some travelled from as far away as Wales, Ireland, Northern Island, the Isle of Man, Hong Kong, Germany and Holland to be complete the ambitious challenge and to savour the beauty of the garden Isle in all its Spring glory.

Record-breaking Cowes-based yachts woman Dame Ellen McArthur walked the full distance wearing the number 5. Actor Geoffrey Hughes was present at Carisbrooke Castle to award medals to those who reached the half way milestone, with MP Andrew Turner and Isle of Wight Radio presenters David 'Doc' Holmes and Alex Dyke stepping in to do the honours at the Needles Park.

A time for camaraderie, resolution and reflection

Walk the Wight traditionally coincides annually with the Isle of Wight Walking Festival. Those who have never experienced the sight of thousands of people all pulling together to support a cause that is so incredibly close to Islander's hearts have undoubtedly missed out on one of the greatest spectacles of community spirit you're ever likely to see.

The event was once again a striking reminder of just how many families across the Isle of Wight have been touched by Cancer and of our dependency upon the essential level of care the hospice provides. It was incredibly humbling to see people from all walks of life of all ages and abilities united in support for their local charity by contributing to this most unique event.

Walk the Wight would not have been possible without the incredible contribution made by the main sponsors of the event, including the 200 Isle of Wight Rotary Club members who took on responsibility for manning the checkpoints. Please see our Related Links page for further details.

Our Photo Gallery showcases images from the Walk the Wight Flat Walk - new for 2008.

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