More than 100 people – from toddlers through to senior citizens – joined the BAPS Annual 10K Challenge in Wellingborough on Sunday 24 April 2016.
The charity Challenge organised by BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) 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 will go towards BAPS’s multifarious educational, community and spiritual activities serving children, youths, families and the elderly.
Previous national partners, under the auspices of BAPS and BAPS Charities, have included the British Heart Foundation, Diabetes UK, Breast Cancer Care, Age UK, Barnardo’s, KIDS, The Anthony Nolan Trust, and Macmillan Cancer Support.
The event kicked off at 1pm from BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in the presence of Deputy Mayor Graham Lawman and Peter Bone MP for Wellingborough and Rushden.
Addressing the gathering, Cllr Lawman thanked BAPS for its services to the local community, saying, “I have been involved in my role as a councillor and as Mayor with the Mandir and I have seen the great work carried out by BAPS over the years.”
After the opening ceremony, walkers, joggers and runners moved along the route from the Mandir on Mill Road through the town centre to eventually finish at Eastfield Park.
Millan Gohil, one of the participants, shared: “Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the walk. It is good for our health and also reminds us to give back to our local community.”
One of the lead volunteers for the event, Mahesh Patel, added: “It was fantastic to see so many people turn up for the walk again this year. We’re very grateful for everyone’s continuing support and generous contributions for this worthy cause.”