This year's Five Church Walk – early news!
Suddenly what had been next year’s Five Church Walk has become this year’s, meaning planning has already started with emails between committee members who are due to hold their first meeting on 1st February. So now is the time to book it in your diary on 2nd May 2016, the Spring Bank Holiday Monday, before you get side-tracked onto lesser events.
If you’ve not taken part before or never even heard of it, this is a waymarked walk along footpaths, byways and very minor roads on a circular in & around Kings Wood. It starts at any one of the churches at Chilham, Molash, Challock, Boughton Aluph & Godmersham; a full circuit is 16 miles but many people opt to walk between only 3 or 4 churches for a shorter distance. Walkers register with stewards at any of the churches who request a £5 donation towards the Kent Air Ambulance, the Pilgrims Hospices or any church on the route. Larger donations can be split between two or more on the entry forms, & forms are available for multiple sponsorship by others.
Last year about 500 walkers between them raised over £5,400 split according to their wishes between the two charities and five churches. In addition helpers serving hungry walkers with home-made refreshments raised many hundred pounds at each church throughout the walk’s allotted time-span from 10am to 6pm. So it’s a very healthy, enjoyable & satisfying way to raise funds. Having entered the date in your diary, you will be able to learn more details from the publicity nearer the event.