Records tumble on our “Tremendous Third” Charity Walk!

This year’s Charity Walk, held on Saturday 6 September, has proven an even bigger success than the previous two “editions”, with even more people taking part, more miles being walked… and the funds raised shattering our previous best total.

But what proved to be an unforgettable day was no “overnight success”.  Months of planning went into making sure that every contingency was planned for, and even the day itself started bright and early (as well as thankfully dry!) for “Team BAS” – the 10 staff members and 30 volunteers who brought the day together. 

Putting up direction signs for the one-, three- and six-mile routes started before dawn, and then it was all hands to the pump preparing for the arrival of the walkers: erecting the gazebos, setting up tables and flags, as well as loading up the Nissen Hut café with the cakes, flapjacks and water bottles kindly donated.

By 10am, our first entrants had started to check in, and it was also “briefing time” for our amazing volunteers… many of whom then set off to distant points of the course to act as marshals.

Next to arrive was Bristol’s Lord Mayor, Councillor Henry Michallat, who had kindly agreed to officially start the walk. And we soon had some fabulous music to get everyone into a walking mood: Bristol’s very own A Capella chorus.

With everyone registered, including around a dozen people who had turned up on the day, it was time for the “Grand Départ”, with almost 150 people lined up at the start to the highly appropriate sound of “I’m Still Standing” from Bristol A Capella. 

Everyone, then, was on their own personal journey, with many of those who have had strokes setting themselves the challenge of walking further than they had managed since their stroke and some accompanied by dogs, children and babies in papooses.

It was also a day when supporters and families also came together to be there for their loved ones… and give their backing to a great cause. The new three-mile course proved hugely popular, allowing some of last year’s one milers to set themselves a tougher target. 

It wasn’t long before our first walker was passing over the finish line… to receive their medal and go off to enjoy a well-deserved cake and drink… and over the next couple of hours, knots of tired but jubilant walkers followed.

It was a day when so much was experienced and so much achieved by so many: targets were broken, new limits pushed, barriers overcome, memories made and new friendships forged. 

And, as well as being a day when so many of Bristol’s stroke community came together for one of the two standout days of the BAS calendar, it’s also one of our biggest sources of donated income. That’s thanks to the hard work of many walkers and the generosity of their family and friends as well as our sponsors.

So, what was this year’s fundraising tally? And how does that compare with previous years?

In 2023, our inaugural walk raised some £9k
In 2024, that was raised to £16k.
This year, helped by £10,000 of match funding from the John James Bristol Foundation, that total has spiralled up to £34,479.

With more calls than ever before on our services, that means in the coming year we can provide more of the courses, activities and emotional support urgently needed to help around 1,400 local people on their stroke recovery journeys.

So: thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who has made this possible. And do come along next year – we promise it will be even more magical!

Finally: a special thank you to our sponsors

Evelyn Partners
Wuppies Raw

Special thanks also to Burges Salmon and John James Bristol Foundation for their support.