More than 65 people – from toddlers through to senior citizens – joined the BAPS Annual 10k Challenge in Preston on Sunday 7 May 2017.
The charity Challenge brought together more than 3,000 enthusiastic participants from towns and cities across the UK for a fun and healthy way to raise money for various worthy causes and local charities.
The funds from this year’s event in Preston will go towards BAPS’s multifarious educational, community and spiritual activities serving children, youths, families and the elderly. Some of the funds have also been donated to Northwest Blood Bikes to support their outstanding work in the local community. Northwest Blood Bikers ride motorcycles to collect and deliver urgently needed blood, platelets, samples for analysis, medication and patient notes on behalf of hospitals, relieving financial pressure from the NHS.
In addition, this year’s national charity partner with BAPS is Alzheimer’s Society, one of the country’s largest charities fighting dementia.
Previous national partners for BAPS and BAPS Charities have included Age UK, the Anthony Nolan Trust, Barnardo’s, Breast Cancer Care, the British Heart Foundation, Diabetes UK, KIDS, and Macmillan Cancer Support. Locally, the Challenge has helped Derian House and Age Concern.
The event kicked off shortly after 10am from BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Preston in the presence of the worshipful Mayor of Preston, Councillor John Collins.
Addressing the gathering, the Mayor said he was delighted to be a part of the event and was impressed by and grateful for the work of BAPS in Preston to support local charities.
After the opening ceremony, walkers, joggers and runners moved along the 10-kilometre route starting from the Mandir, progressing through the city centre, Preston Docklands and finally returning back to the Mandir.
Niral Kanani, one of the participants, shared, “I look forward to this event every year as it presents a fresh opportunity to support local charities and allow friends, families and communities to come together.”